Detroit — Please put down your keyboard. Before you fire off that email berating this reporter or perhaps worse, understand that we are not saying this is the same as when Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker made their major league debuts together in Boston on September 9, 1977, in the second game of a doubleheader at Fenway Park.
But there’s still something special about the moves the Tigers officially announced on Friday. It makes you feel like the future – and potentially a bright one – is here.
Two highly valued young talents, Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney, were scheduled to make their major league debut for the Tigers in the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday night at Comerica Park.
Jung, the Tigers’ fifth-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was slated to bat fifth and play third base, while Sweeney, a first-round draft pick of his first major league opponent, the Yankees, in 2021 who came from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Jack Flaherty trade in late July, was slated to bat eighth and play shortstop.
“Any first time is great,” manager AJ Hinch said before Friday night’s game. “I mean, those are the biggest smiles I’ll see in my office.”
“There’s only one first day. I want to encourage them that it’s OK to just play the game here. They know they’re going to make mistakes, they’re going to have some highlights, they’re going to hit a home run or they’re going to make a mistake.
“I want to make sure they both get opportunities the next day. I don’t want them hanging on every shot like it’s their last.”
The call-ups have a huge impact on the Tigers’ entire squad.
First, the relevant trades: Veteran infielder Gio Urshela, who signed for a one-year, $1.5 million deal late in spring training, was designated for trade to make room on the 40-man roster, as was left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, who was claimed off waivers by the Oakland A’s in May. Each of them can be picked up by another team; if not, they can accept a spot in the Tigers’ minors or opt for free agency.
The 32-year-old Urshela, who has played for six major league teams, was versatile on defense in the infield and mostly played third base, but he moved to the other field when the Tigers needed some first-base work after Spencer Torkelson’s demotion. But he has never been the same player at bat since breaking his pelvis last season with the Los Angeles Angels, and he never really found his rhythm on offense in Detroit, at least not until August, a good month of limited playing time. The 27-year-old Lucas saw limited use in the Tigers’ bullpen.
In another roster move, 26-year-old outfielder Akil Baddoo was demoted to Triple-A Toledo two days after hitting a walk-off double in the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners. Baddoo’s demotion came on his 26th birthday.
“That was tough,” Hinch said of his conversation with Urshela. “I mean, Gio is the consummate professional. He did everything we asked. … When we signed him, a lot of people in the industry told me he was going to be one of my favorite players, and they were right. … You have to make tough decisions.”
“We need to take a step in a new direction to give some young players who deserve it a chance.”
The moves will also determine playing time for several other players. Veteran Javier Báez’s time at shortstop could decrease, although he will play shortstop next week in Chicago when he returns to Wrigley Field.
Matt Vierling, meanwhile, could spend more time in the outfield than at third base. Zach McKinstry, who spent most of his 84 games at shortstop and third base, could see less playing time, although he did play second base on Friday night for Colt Keith, who was sidelined with mild cramping.
The Tigers, out of the playoff race and looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, aren’t bringing in Sweeney and Jung just for occasional at-bats. President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris has a head start on evaluating his major league roster for next year, but Hinch again said no amount of difficulty will determine the long-term prognosis for the two.
The Tigers have decided not to wait until September when rosters will be expanded. Of course, that could be when right-hander Jackson Jobe, the Tigers’ second-best prospect, gets his first chance, although the Tigers may not do so to conserve his innings count.
“Six weeks is better than five weeks, and that is better than four weeks,” Hinch said of the current appointment of Jung and Sweeney.
The date also plays a role: The Tigers can probably keep Jung and Sweeney’s rookie status for 2025.
Jung, 23, was selected No. 12 in the first round in 2022 by Texas Tech and is the brother of Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers. The Tigers moved him from second to third base, where he has struggled, but his bat is expected to play at the highest level immediately.
Sweeney, 24, is already in his third organization, despite being drafted 20th overall out of Eastern Illinois University in 2021. He delivered a stellar performance in Toledo, batting .381 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 11 games and forcing the Tigers to trade him. At this point in his career, he is viewed as more of a two-way player than Jung.
Sweeney joined the Dodgers on July 30 in exchange for Flaherty, along with switch-hitting catcher Thayron Liranzo (21), who plays at High-A West Michigan.
Jung and Sweeney — both left-handed hitters; incidentally, the vast majority of outfielders considered by the front office to be part of the core for years to come bat left-handed — did not speak to reporters before Friday’s game as they were still getting their bearings. A clubhouse employee gave Sweeney a map of his locker. One by one, players came to each of them in the home team’s clubhouse before the game to congratulate them.
“The faster we get these guys acclimated to major league life, the better they’re going to be,” Hinch said. “A lot of things are their top priority and we’re all going to be paying attention to that.”
@tonypaul1984
