2 Tigers who've played their way onto Opening Day roster, 2 who played their way off

We are officially less than two weeks away from the start of the 2025 MLB season, and the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster is beginning to come into focus.

Entering spring training, much of the discussion centered around the Tigers' starting rotation, and that remains ongoing. But there are also some other position battles that have heated up and made some roster decisions a bit more difficult than they may have been as recently as a few weeks ago.

Some players who entered spring training as long shots to make the Opening Day roster have made strong cases, while others have struggled. What's the current dynamic as the Tigers near their final decisions?

Tigers who have played their way onto Detroit's Opening Day roster

Spencer Torkelson

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said earlier in the offseason that if Spencer Torkelson had a "big spring," then there would be a role for him on the Major League roster. Torkelson heard that message loud and clear and has since had the best spring training of his career, batting .290 with four home runs, eight RBI and a .909 OPS.

Torkelson won't be Tigers' starting first baseman — as that job now belongs to Colt Keith — but he has made quite a case to earn a roster spot as a designated hitter and backup first baseman. Even with the odds stacked against him this spring, Torkelson hasn't gone down without a fight. If he can return to his 2023 form when he smashed 31 home runs at the big league level, he can be a major difference maker for the Tigers in 2025.

Jahmai Jones

The only guy at Tigers camp with at least 30 plate appearances and an OPS higher than Torkelson's is outfielder Jahmai Jones (.910). He also has a pair of homers and eight RBI to boot. A former top prospect in the Los Angeles Angels' system, Jones came to spring training as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor league deal with the Tigers in free agency – and it's already looking like one of the best offseason signings they could have made.

Jones has become a fixture in the Tigers' outfield during Grapefruit League play, especially since injuries have sidelined Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez. Meadows and Vierling have been ruled out for Opening Day, but the Tigers are hopeful that Pérez will be ready to go by March 27. Regardless, Jones can fill a role on this team by hitting left-handed pitching, being aggressive on the base paths, and playing the outfield. It's hard to argue that he hasn't earned a spot on this roster.

Tigers who have played their way off of Detroit's Opening Day roster

Andrew Chafin

When the Tigers offered lefty reliever Andrew Chafin the opportunity to return for a third stint with the club, they didn't make him any promises. So far this spring, we've seen why.

The 34-year-old Chafin, whom Detroit traded to the Texas Rangers at last year's deadline, signed a minor league deal with the Tigers that included an invite to Major League spring training. In three Grapefruit League relief appearances, he's given up six runs on three hits while walking five and pitching to a 27.00 ERA over just two innings.

The Tigers could always select Chafin's contract later in the year if he settles down and they need some left-handed relief depth; but in the meantime, it looks like he's going to be opening the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Toledo.

Jackson Jobe

Yes, really. Top prospect Jackson Jobe was given an inside track to earn a spot in the Tigers' Opening Day rotation – and he still may – but recent events have indicated that it might not be in Detroit's best interest to throw the 22-year-old to the wolves and force him to learn on the job in the big leagues.

Jobe was showing his nasty stuff earlier in the spring, pitching to a 3.12 ERA through his first three Grapefruit League starts. He had his worst game of the spring by far on Thursday, however, giving up three hits (two home runs) and a walk to the New York Yankees. He struggled with command, too, running his pitch count up to 68 through just 3 2/3 innings.

Jobe being left off the Tigers' Opening Day roster wouldn't be a popular decision, but it would be the right one. This isn't to say that one bad outing destroyed his chances; but it did strengthen the case to start him in Triple-A and let him continue to develop before calling him back up.

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