In a different organization, Ryan Kreidler might have made headlines last season. He made headway with the Tigers just fine. Thriving behind Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, Kreidler looked much like a top prospect himself. He's always had the glove. Then he broke out the bat. In a different organization, Kreidler might be eyeing the starting shortstop job in the bigs. The job has been filled for the next six years in Detroit.
The Tigers could have waited on Kreidler, the 24-year-old they drafted out of UCLA in 2019 and the most advanced middle infield prospect in their system. But they couldn't afford to wait on a loaded class of free agent shortstops. They gave Javier Baez $140 million to fill the biggest hole in their rebuild. In response, Kreidler keeps filling the holes in his game.
When the 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Kreidler hunkered down in the gym. He wanted to add more muscle to his 6'4 frame and more "quickness and lateral range to stick at shortstop," he said this week on 97.1 The Ticket's Tiger Talk. It paid dividends last year in the field, which Kreidler said he was "super happy with." And in an effort to produce more at the plate, Kreidler adjusted his swing ahead of last season.
"I decided to stand a little more upright, try to hit the ball in the air a little bit more," he said. "And I was able to do a little more damage -- doubles and home runs and driving in some runs for my team."
In three seasons at UCLA, Kreidler never posted an average over .300 or an OPS over .900. He came in at .232/.658 in A-ball in his first season with the Tigers. He bumped that up to .256./754 last year in Double-A, which, along with his defense, carried him to Triple-A with Greene and Torkelson. And then Kreidler started crushing the ball. He hit .304 with an OPS of .926 in 41 games with the Mud Hens, while also cutting down on his strikeouts. If there's a case for trading Kreidler to bolster the roster, there might be a stronger case for keeping him.
"I think I've always had some pop," Kreidler said. "When I was younger, it was a little bit more doubles and down-the-line power, but as I've matured a little bit and gotten in the weight room, that power has started to come toward the middle of the field. That makes hitting a little easier, when you don't have to ambush a fastball just to hit one out of the ballpark. Being able to hit the ball all over the field is super important, especially with the shifts these days, not to mention hitting it over people's heads. That's obviously a skill that everyone wants.
"So I've gotten a lot stronger. It's been a collaborative effort with me doing my thing and working with the Tigers strength staff and my own strength coaches at home. There are a lot of hands on deck trying to help me do this thing."
With Baez, the Tigers have gotten a lot stronger, too. He's the only shortstop in baseball with at least 100 homers and 300 RBI over the last four seasons. He also has a Gold Glove. Kreidler might have multiple gloves when he shows up to spring training later this month. In the wake of the Baez signing, he said he's been taking ground balls at both second and third, "trying to show up to Lakeland a little more prepared and ready for the footwork of those spots." He said he's also open to playing in the outfield.
Kreidler won't make it with the Tigers playing shortstop. He might make it playing everywhere.
"I've never caught, so we'll take that one off the table for now. But I like to think that I can play anywhere," Kreidler said. "I think playing shortstop allows me to open up the field. I can play third, I played a little bit of second in the (Arizona) Fall League, and I'm not opposed to playing outfield if the team needs that. Just being flexible is the name of the game."
No one loves flexibility more than A.J. Hinch. He wedged Harold Castro into more than 100 games last season because Castro does everything but catch. He also hits right-handed pitchers with his eyes closed. Kreidler happens to hit lefties. It won't happen from the jump, with Kreidler facing a few more prove-it months in Toledo, but maybe there's room on Detroit's roster for both of them. Maybe Kreidler is this era's Don Kelly, a lanky homegrown utility man with a little more pop.
The Tigers have their shortstop. It cost them a pretty penny. It doesn't have to cost Kreidler his future, which could arrive as soon as this season.
