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Miggy visits old friend Verlander before joining Team Venezuela in new role

6:00 PM EST

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera said he sent a text to Justin Verlander as soon as news emerged of Verlander’s return to the Tigers. “I told him I want to come back, too,” Cabrera said, followed by his familiar bellowing laugh.

Skubal to make only one start for Team USA in World Baseball Classic

4:18 PM EST

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Monday looked like a typical Spring Training outing for Tarik Skubal, who opened his 2026 season with four strikeouts over two scoreless innings in Detroit's 3-0 loss against the Twins. Aside from one start for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, he said afterwards, it will

Game on the line, Tigers' No. 2 prospect comes up clutch vs. former teammate

February 22, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The late innings of a Spring Training game can become an intersection of small sample sizes. On one side, top prospects might be trying to make an impression with the at-bats they get in a big league camp that can be more learning experience than proving grounds.

Recalling his Yankees mentors, Torres paying it forward with Tigers

February 21, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. -- Gleyber Torres was feeling a tad nostalgic this week even before returning to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday for the Tigers’ Grapefruit League opener against the Yankees, his former team. If Torres wanted a reminder of his days as a top prospect and a highly regarded

Will 43 be the new 22? Verlander celebrates birthday with another day at the office

February 20, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- From an early age, Justin Verlander talked about pitching into his mid-40s, with Nolan Ryan as a role model for longevity. “I mean, since I was 22 years old, I’ve been saying I wanted to pitch til I was 45,” Verlander said last week during his reintroductory

Tigers stoked to wear new alternate unis

February 20, 2026

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

No. 1 prospect McGonigle to start Tigers' 1st spring game at short 

February 19, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Kevin McGonigle has done a great job blending into Tigers camp as a top prospect turned non-roster invite to Spring Training. But he couldn’t help but stand out Thursday afternoon as his home run soared down the right-field line. McGonigle got all of a Beau Brieske fastball

A look at the top 10 MLB debuts in Tigers' rich history

February 19, 2026

The Tigers haven’t always had a collection of young talent like they’ve assembled in recent years, but their franchise history includes plenty of memorable debuts – some from future stars, others from young players who came seemingly out of nowhere. Many of their best young players had rough introductions to

Will Carpenter's ALDS homer earn him more ABs vs. lefties?

February 19, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – Kerry Carpenter’s explosive swing allows him to see a pitch a split-second longer and react. But his ability to read pitchers and anticipate a pitch is just about as fascinating. “The swing decisions are helped by the more I see [pitchers],” Carpenter explained Monday. “The more I

After 2 years of research, Tigers unveil eye-catching alternate unis

February 19, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Arguably no topic in Detroit sports has better encapsulated the city’s challenge of preserving history while embracing modernization than the Tigers uniform. For more than 30 years, generations of fans, players and team officials have wondered how to balance the history of an American League charter franchise

All eyes on Verlander as throwing work begins again in Tigertown

February 18, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The first Vintage Verlander moment of this new chapter wasn’t a strikeout in front of a packed crowd at Joker Marchant Stadium, or a big fastball or buckling breaking ball. It was a bullpen session on the back fields. This is where Justin Verlander put in the

If it helps Tigers win, Báez more than willing to bounce around field

February 17, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- While Kevin McGonigle took ground balls with the first-year infielders on the Tigers’ first day of full-squad workouts Sunday, Javier Báez was right there with him, showing him the way at shortstop. “We’re getting to learn from each other all the time,” Báez said. “There’s always something

No. 2 MLB prospect arrives at first Tigers camp looking for big league job

February 17, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The shouts could be heard from the other practice fields as Kevin McGonigle sent a ball spearing into the air Monday morning. The reaction from teammates wasn’t for what he did, but for pitcher Keider Montero, who scrambled off the mound, chased down the popup and made

Versatile Vierling ready to roll thanks to help from pitching coach

February 16, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tigers assistant pitching coach Robin Lund had a simple question for outfielder/third baseman Matt Vierling shortly after last season ended: What does your first day of Spring Training look like? Lund is a biomechanics expert who has done wonders with Tigers pitchers over the past few years.

No. 6 prospect Lee all smiles at Tigers camp ... even after facing Skubal

February 16, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Hao-Yu Lee’s English is improving. “I'm getting better,” the Tigers' No. 6-ranked prospect (per MLB Pipeline) said Monday morning. “I've been here five years, so I definitely get better each year.”

Jones grateful for Classic opportunity with Team Korea

February 15, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Jahmai Jones’ role on the Tigers is to hit left-handed pitching. It’s how he transitioned from a non-roster invite last Spring Training to a fixture on the roster down the stretch last year and into the postseason. It’s a role that earned him a spot on Team

Tarik Skubal: Back-to-back Cy winner ... and aspiring barista?

February 15, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tarik Skubal is a back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, a Team USA ace and a record winner in arbitration. He got here by never being satisfied, which might explain his next foray in pursuit of more hardware. Skubal is an aspiring barista.

How Greene tweaked his mindset after a historic season

February 14, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Riley Greene called his hitting instructor, Jered Goodwin, one night after a game last season. Goodwin asked what was going on. “I was like, 'I feel like I can hit everything for a home run,'” Greene said Saturday. “And it looked like it. I'm swinging at everything,

Skubal shuts down hitters in first spring live session

February 13, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The PitchCom device was blaring to Tarik Skubal as he stepped off the mound. “Can you hear that?” Skubal yelled to catcher Jake Rogers. “I don’t hear a thing,” said Rogers, wearing the other end of the PitchCom headset. “My ear is plugged.”

Prospect Miller soaking up Tigers camp among elite company

February 13, 2026

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Skubal's the ace, but he's eager to learn from legend

February 12, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – Tarik Skubal is a southpaw pitcher at the top of his profession, having won back-to-back American League Cy Young awards along with a record arbitration award. He is also a child at heart. “Still young,” he reminded when a reporter began a question about a prospect by

What's it like for JV to rejoin Tigers as elder statesman? 'Really surreal'

February 12, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – Justin Verlander used to live in this central Florida city. He bought a place on the south end of town shortly after the Tigers drafted him in 2004 and spent his offseasons here for over a decade, making the drive across town to Joker Marchant Stadium to

Skubal to defend 2nd Cy Young with Opening Day start for Tigers

February 11, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Tigers rotation now includes four former Opening Day starters, including two who have done so for Detroit. But for this year’s squad, there’s only one choice for when the season begins on March 26 in San Diego. "Tarik Skubal,” manager A.J. Hinch replied Wednesday morning, getting

Dingler ramping up slowly at camp after recent right elbow surgery

February 11, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Dillon Dingler has not yet received the Gold Glove Award he won last fall, but as he talked with reporters on Wednesday morning ahead of the Tigers’ first official workout of Spring Training, he at least has his gold glove of sorts. He dug into his locker

Olson out for 2026 season after shoulder surgery

February 11, 2026

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers’ flurry of late-offseason pitcher signings had a purpose: Filling in for an injury. Reese Olson, whose 2025 season ended in July due to a shoulder strain, underwent surgery last week to repair his right labrum and will miss the upcoming season, according to the team.