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

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.