Tiger Players Hoping (and Hitting) to Make the Team

Will Rhymes

After this week's 5-player cut 3 players are left fighting to stay and head north with the team next week.  (Click to see Spring Roster, and Pitcher/Hitter trends.) 

The surprise cuts this week were 2nd baseman Scott Sizemore heading back to Toledo and right-handed ground ball reliever Robbie Weinhardt both of whom had decent outings in Spring camp.  Sizemore was a victim of a 3-player log-jam at 2nd and Weinhardt a victim of the already strong right-handed bullpen and Brayan Villarreal's outstanding Spring in right-handed relief.

Three players, 1 pitcher and 2 fielders are expected to be the last to head to Toledo.  The 2 position players will come from the outfield and most probably 1 of the 2 players left hitting their way onto the team for the temporary job at 2nd base covering while Guillen is on the disabled list.  In both outfield and infield the guys left are hitting up a storm in their bids to make the team.  The decision on who stays will most likely be made by the weekend before the Tigers hit the road for the last 3 Spring Training games.

Until then right-handed hitting versatile infielder Danny Worth and the flashy left-handed hitting Will Rhymes are in a dogfight to see who can hit and field better to win the job at 2nd.  Worth is out-hitting Rhymes, but another left-handed bat in the lineup could land Rhymes the job.  In the outfield the best hitter on the team for the entire Spring camp has been lefty-hitting non-roster invitee Andy Dirks and he has shown no signs of slowing down.  Center fielder Casper Wells has hit well too, as well as has Brennan Boesch.  Wells has been slumping lately in camp, and with the Tigers loaded with right-handed power and Austin Jackson starting at Center, look for the Tigers to pick up Andy Dirks' contract and give him a shot while Casper heads to Toledo.

Ryan Perry struggling.

The last player to miss the cut will most likely come from the bullpen.  Ryan Perry has had a lot of trouble getting hit hard in camp, and even though he is on the Tigers roster, I would not be surprised to see him start the season in Toledo.  If not, then the last player cut is likely to be non-roster invitee Enrique Gonzalez.  Gonzalez has had a decent Spring, but probably not good enough for the Tigers to pick up his contract.

There is one non-roster invitee who is very likely to make the team.  Left-handed side-arm throwing Adam Wilk.  Just as position player non-roster guy Andy Dirks has led the hitters so has Adam Wilk led all relievers in the pen this Spring.  He has walked only 2 batters in 12 and 2/3 innings of relief while striking out 5, and has let only 20% of batters faced get on base.  That means 8 of 10 guys he's faced simply can't hit him.  He's a keeper.

That's it for a quick mid-week update.  Stay tuned for the final Spring Training weekend report this weekend and one more to completely wrap up Spring Training after the Tigers finish on March 29th.


GO TIGERS!   ---Rob




Photo Credits:
Will Ryhmes by Mark Cunningham - MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ryan Perry by John T. Greilick - Detroit News