Lakeland, Florida — The Detroit Tigers have 13 position players on the Opening Day roster.
Following Thursday’s 10-5 loss to the New York Mets, the Tigers made three roster changes during the fifth round of spring training cuts. Outfielder Akil Baddoo and infielder Ryan Kreidler have been optioned to Triple-A Toledo, while top prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy has been transferred to minor league camp.
The Tigers have 31 players remaining in MLB spring training, but only 13 are position players. The Tigers must remove five more players — one starting pitcher and four relief pitchers — before next Thursday’s deadline to set the Opening Day roster. The pitching decisions, particularly for the bullpen, will be determined at the deadline.
The Opening Day roster includes 13 players: shortstop Javier Báez, outfielders Mark Canha, Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, infielder Andy Ibáñez, second baseman Colt Keith, catcher Carson Kelly, infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry, centre fielder Parker Meadows, catcher Jake Rogers, first baseman Spencer Torkelson, infielder Gio Urshela, and outfielder Matt Vierli.ng.
Keith, 22, will make his MLB debut when he enters the game for the first time during the regular season.
All three players released from major league camp will report to Triple-A Toledo to open the season, with Kreidler acting as the starting shortstop.
Kreidler, 26, impressed the Tigers in camp by hitting.355 with two home runs, eight walks, and ten strikeouts in 40 plate appearances, all while surpassing expectations with his outstanding defence. If he keeps hitting in Toledo, the Tigers will eventually find a place for him in the majors, where he played 37 games in 2022-23. He is the organization’s greatest defensive infielder and could potentially replace Báez at shortstop in the future..
