The Tigers could use Justyn-Henry Malloy's right-handed bat. They have decided they need Ryan Kreidler's glove.
Malloy is being optioned to Triple-A Toledo after a strong spring at the plate so that the Tigers can keep Kreidler on their Opening Day roster amid a rash of injuries in center field, per the Free Press.
Parker Meadows (right arm inflammation), Matt Vierling (strained rotator cuff) and Wenceel Perez (lower back inflammation) all went down in spring training, leaving the Tigers to start Kreidler and Javy Baez in center field in their final two exhibition games.
While both are shortstops by trade, with scant experience in the outfield, "Ryan is an elite defender," Tigers boss Scott Harris said this week. "He makes our defense better when he's on the field, and pitching and defense is going to be really important for us moving forward."
Kreidler, 27, hit well this spring, but didn't have a path to a roster spot prior to the Tigers' dilemma in center. His bat just hasn't survived in the majors. He's a .147 hitter across parts of three seasons in Detroit. The Tigers will hope that his .941 OPS this spring is the sign of a breakthrough. Either way, they're counting on his glove to be an asset in center, and perhaps across the field.
Malloy, 25, is the victim of circumstance. He hit .309 with an .805 OPS this spring and homered in the Tigers' final exhibition game -- the sort of showing that should have earned him a spot on the roster -- but doesn't offer enough versatility on defense with the team in a jam. He's a corner outfielder who's best suited as a designated hitter, the role that's going to Spencer Torkelson.
Torkelson earned it, hitting .340 with five homers and a 1.069 OPS this spring. The Tigers are hoping for a comeback season out of the former first overall pick, who was demoted to Triple-A Toledo last year for the second time in his career. He finished the year hitting .219 with a .669 OPS and struggled in the playoffs. He gets a chance out of the gate to redeem himself.
Malloy's overall numbers were actually worse than Torkelson's last season, but he posted an .893 OPS against lefties, put together professional at-bats, and then rose to the challenge in the playoffs when he reached base eight times in 11 plate appearances. He will likely be back with the Tigers sooner than later.
Amid their injuries, Harris acknowledged that the Tigers "may have to adjust our strategy to win games until we get healthy. We may do some things differently on the field."
"I think we're going to have to leverage what we believe is a really talented pitching staff, and we're going to have to protect that pitching staff with defense," Harris said, hence the decision to keep Kreidler over Malloy.
The Tigers' outfield will be anchored by All-Star Riley Greene and fellow left-handed slugger Kerry Carpenter. Recently-signed veteran Manuel Margot has been a strong center fielder in the past, but the Tigers plan to play him mostly in the corners to get his right-handed bat in the lineup.
Greene could see some time in center, but likely not much as the Tigers aim to keep their best hitter healthy over the course of the season. The 24-year-old has suffered multiple injuries playing center field in the past.
