LAKELAND, Fla. -- The sighting of a Ben Malgeri Double-A Erie SeaWolves shirsey at Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday could have been a sign of how the Tigers Minor League outfielder has taken the Grapefruit League by storm with his hot start. Or it could simply be a sign of how much Malgeri has played with the Major League club so far this Spring Training.
Malgeri made his second start in center field in three days. With the Tigers suddenly thin in center, he could have more playing time coming his way.
While the Tigers wait to see if Parker Meadows is cleared to resume baseball activity soon, they also wait on news with Matt Vierling, who hasn’t played since Sunday. He’s being evaluated by doctors for a right shoulder issue, manager A.J. Hinch said before Thursday’s 6-5 loss to the Red Sox.
With Meadows battling a right biceps issue suffered in the Detroit’s Grapefruit League opener Saturday, that leaves the Tigers reviewing their options for now. While Malgeri started against the Red Sox in Lakeland, Wenceel Pérez started in the split-squad game at the Rays, making his second start in center this week.
“Obviously we’ll move guys around quite a bit,” Hinch said, “and it opens up some opportunity for reps for somebody else. You’ll see a number of guys playing in the outfield, same at third base. At-bats are at a premium, and while we’re getting these guys better, there’ll be some young guys getting some opportunity.”
Among those will be Ryan Kreidler, who has made two starts at shortstop this spring while Javier Báez works back from right hip surgery. He’ll start in center field on Friday against the Blue Jays, a plan that Hinch said was in place before Meadows and Vierling were injured. Kreidler is 2-for-5 with a double this spring after recording an opposite-field single off knuckleballer Cory Lewis, one of Detroit’s two hits in Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to the Twins.
“I think Ryan’s done a good job of trying to be center-focused on making a good impression, moving around the field, control what he can control,” Hinch said. “He has been in this spot before where there’s a little uncertainty on where he’s going to play, or where he fits. He’s already made a couple of plus defensive plays that surprise absolutely no one.”
Respect the moustache
The beard that Jake Rogers had been growing for the first couple weeks of camp turned out to be merely prep work for his usual moustache. He trimmed the extra hair early this week. It brought him good fortune on Thursday, from his first home run of the spring to a 2-for-2 performance on challenges in his first game with the ABS challenge system.
Rogers had tinkered with the system at Joker Marchant Stadium last week in live batting practice, when he was calling balls and strikes for his own pitchers. This was a little different scenario, particularly with starter Jack Flaherty searching for strikes.
“I told [home-plate umpire] Jen [Pawol] this is my first game ever with [the system],” Rogers said. “I was like, 'Look, I've never used this thing before and it's kind of like a new toy. So if anything's anywhere close, I'm just going to try it. I just want to see how it works.' And she was like, 'All right.'”
The home run was an opposite-field loft into the wind blowing out to right field, carrying for a solo homer to end the Tigers’ 15-inning scoreless streak.
“I didn't really know where the wind was blowing, to be honest,” Rogers said. “I just kinda swung, got it off the barrel. I thought I got it good enough to get it out there, but I didn't think it was out. I looked up and it was over the fence. It was a great swing, and obviously I'll never complain about a homer.”
Quick hits
• In the other split-squad game, Spencer Torkelson hit a mammoth home run off the top of the scoreboard in left-center field at Charlotte Sports Park as the Tigers settled for a 7-7 draw with the Rays. It was Torkelson’s first home run of the spring as he tries to win a spot on the Opening Day roster as a part-time first baseman/DH.
• Báez is scheduled to return to game action Friday as the designated hitter when the Tigers visit the Blue Jays. It’ll be his first game since last Aug. 22, and his first since hip surgery.