As Al Avila ran through the Tigers' offseason needs Tuesday, it was telling that he bypassed outfield and first base. The Tigers, it turns out, have an outfielder and a first baseman on the way. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson are better -- and cheaper and younger! -- than anything the club might find in free agency.
"If there’s an opportunity to capitalize on something (in the outfield), maybe we look at it, but right now it’s not an area of concern because you have Riley Greene coming," Avila said Tuesday. "You guys have written plenty on him possibly making the club out of spring training, and I’m not going to comment on that. But at some point in the not-too-distant future you can count on Riley Greene playing in our outfield."
Between Robbie Grossman, Akil Baddoo and Co., the Tigers also like what they have in the outfield as it is. The logic is the same at first, where Jonathan Schoop and Miguel Cabrera can hold things down until Torkelson takes over. The Tigers' top two prospects, and two of the top prospects in baseball, comprise one of the biggest questions for the club entering next season. To wit: when?
Opening Day? A couple weeks later, hint-hint service time? Midseason? September? Ideally, Greene and Torkelson will make the team out of camp, flourish in big roles, finish first and second for Rookie of the Year and take the Tigers to the World Series a la Jim Rice and Fred Lynn with the Red Sox in 1975. Ideally!!
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Realistically, at least one of them will start next season in the minors. Heck, Torkelson started this season in Single-A. That he made it to Triple-A by August, with Greene by his side, was impressive enough. They both have growing to do, and so do the Tigers, who have every reason to be patient with these pearls of their future. Unless Greene and Torkelson render patience malpractice.
"Performance matters," said A.J. Hinch. "There isn’t free playing time. We’re going to apply as much pressure on everybody, including ourselves, on when to make this decision, on when to open the door for everybody, on how much to call it a competition. Our offseason will dictate some of that, their performance this season warranted some consideration, what they do next year is going to matter.
"I’m curious how they’re going to respond next February when we get to camp and now all eyes are on them, and it’s big drama, and you guys are asking about them a lot. I love that. I love the pressure on these guys. And then we’ll see where it takes us, but everything’s going to matter."
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If there's one to bet on next spring, it's probably Greene. He's a year younger than Torkelson, but a year older in professional experience. And he knocked the living daylights out of the ball for the past five months. Greene, who just turned 21, hit .301 with 24 homers and a .953 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A this season, and his numbers only improved after the promotion. Most impressive, the left-handed hitter had a .368 average against left-handed pitchers. Oh, and he flashed a bunch of leather in the outfield.
"He’s doing everything that we could expect for someone who’s getting ready to come to the big leagues," said Hinch. "I don't know what exactly happens April 1 or whenever we have to make the decision, but I know we love him. I know we really like how he handled a couple different levels this year. Once you guys get to know him, he's not a kid who’s going to be spooked by anything. He’s not going to be wide-eyed. There’s a quiet confidence about him.
"It’s all setting up for a great spring to look at Riley as an option. Where it goes from here, he’s going to play a part in that, we’re going to play a part in that and now the clock’s ticking because we are awaiting his arrival."
Another clock will start ticking soon. Unless the Tigers try to stall it, unless they keep Greene and/or Torkelson in the minors for a few extra weeks at the start of next season to preserve a year of control on their contracts. It's unlikely, but something that bears watching if either one proves he's ready for the bigs by Opening Day. He wasn't addressing service time, but Hinch did say Tuesday, "One thing we've committed to is putting the best team on the field."
The Tigers are ready to ramp up the pressure on their top two prospects. We'll see if Greene and Torkelson can ramp it up further on the Tigers.
"We’re going to evaluate everything and then apply as much pressure on them as possible," said Hinch. "This is not an easy level to conquer, just because you do well in the minors. I hope they put all kinds of pressure on us on Opening Day, but a lot that has to happen between now and then before we have to make a firm decision."