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Detroit Tigers: Center Field Candidates Stats in Grapefruit League Play So Far

By Ben Rosener |
Feb 24, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Members past and present of the Detroit Tigers stand on the baseline between first and third base to pay tribute to the life of Tigers owner Mike Ilitch before the start of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Ilitch passed away earlier this week. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Members past and present of the Detroit Tigers stand on the baseline between first and third base to pay tribute to the life of Tigers owner Mike Ilitch before the start of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Ilitch passed away earlier this week. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 25, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Fans watch a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros in the fifth inning of a baseball game during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Fans watch a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros in the fifth inning of a baseball game during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers fans will see a new center fielder come Opening Day 2017. Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones, Tyler Collins and others are competing for the job. Here’s how the group has fared so far.

Detroit Tigers general manager made just one significant trade during the offseason.

Following his first winter in charge of Detroit, during which Avila traded for Francisco Rodriguez, Cameron Maybin and Justin Wilson, the general manager was significantly less active on the trade market.

The Tigers ended up flipping Maybin to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for intriguing pitching prospect Victor Alcantara.

Avila’s only other trade came when he brought in fellow center fielder Mikie Mahtook from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later or cash.

Mahtook entered Spring Training as one of a handful of players likely to compete to replace Maybin in the middle of the Comerica Park outfield.

There were plenty of dark horses and outside candidates, including Jason Krizan, Mike Gerber, Alex Presley and Juan Perez.

However, and this is purely speculative mind you, the competition looks to be between Mahtook, JaCoby Jones, Tyler Collins and Anthony Gose.

Here’s how the quartet has fared so far during Grapefruit League play for the Tigers in Spring Training.

Feb 24, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Mikie Mahtook (15) signs autographs before during a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Mikie Mahtook (15) signs autographs before during a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Mikie Mahtook
Age: 27
Hits: Right-Handed

A potential steal from Tampa Bay, Mahtook is a solid defender who also brings speed and pop to the game.

Per Spotrac, the outfielder won’t hit free agency until 2021 and won’t be eligible for arbitration for two more seasons.

The former Rays player has so far logged 30 at-bats for Detroit this spring over the course of 13 games. During that span, he’s collected three hits, two walks and a run scored.

Despite the low number of hits, Mahtook is currently tied with Andrew Romine for the most steals by a Tigers player in Spring Training with two.

Tyler Collins
Age: 26
Hits: Left-Handed

A corner outfielder by trade, Collins saw his first significant action in center field last season for Detroit. He should improve defensively heading into 2017 as he gets more playing time and reps.

At the plate so far in Grapefruit League play, Collins has appeared in 10 games.

Over that span he’s racked up 23 at-bats, while also contributing five hits, four RBI, a home run, a double and a run scored.

Collins would bring some added power to a center field position. Last season, Maybin and Jose Iglesias were the only Tigers starters not to collect at least 10 home runs and a .130 ISO last season.

Mar 12, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Adam Wilk (85) stretches to get out Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones (40) at first base during the third inning of an MLB spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Adam Wilk (85) stretches to get out Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones (40) at first base during the third inning of an MLB spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

JaCoby Jones
Age: 24
Hits: Right-Handed

With Mahtook and Collins not exactly destroying baseballs at the plate, the door could conceivably be open for JaCoby Jones to win the job.

The top prospect is a plus defender waiting to happen given his excellent athleticism.

What’s more, he’s been solid at the plate so far, hitting .304 with an .812 OPS in 23 spring at-bats.

Jones has also added four runs scored, a home run, a double and an RBI. Perhaps most encouragingly, the LSU product has struck out just four times.

Anthony Gose
Age: 26
Hits: Left-Handed

Rounding out the list is Anthony Gose, who has started to improve with the bat as of late.

After registering just one hit in his first three games, the outfielder batted .278 over the past two weeks.

While he’s continued to struggle with strikeouts (nine in 25 spring at-bats), Gose’ recent hitting is a definite positive.

The former Blue Jays player has also added three RBI, two runs scored and a pair of doubles for Brad Ausmus and company in Spring Training.

Next: If Need Be These Pitchers Could Step in for K-Rod

Similar to the other players on this list, Gose would bring some much-needed speed to the Detroit Tigers batting order if he makes the Opening Day roster.

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