5 Detroit Tigers That Could Surprise in 2015

Sep 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) hits a home run in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#5: Nick Castellanos

We keep harping on Nick Castellanos this offseason because he has the potential–and the Detroit Tigers really need him to hit that potential–to be very good this coming season and beyond.

We all know the story of his bad, really bad, defensive from a year ago, ranking last in eligible Gold Glove AL third baseman with a -18.8 ranking from SABR’s defensive index rankings. The Tigers worked with him throughout the offseason to improve at the Hot Corner. He can improve, but he’ll never be great there. Ultimately he might be a first baseman or DH, but for now Detroit just needs him to be okay over there and minimize any big mistakes. They didn’t draft Castellanos for his glove.

He has a chance to be a .280 to .300ish hitter with homers in the 20-range annually. The Tigers will probably be happy to see Nick increase his productivity this year to .275, 20 homers and 80+ RBIs with an OPS near .780-.790. (.259/11HR/.700OPS a year ago) with the hopes it climbs even higher in subsequent years.

If he can make the jump this year, that would be even better for the Tigers.

Jul 29, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Ian Krol (46) pitches in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Ian Krol

The only remaining piece of the infamous Doug Fister trade, Ian Krol was a disappointment in 2014.  But the good thing about Krol being a disappointment last year is that he KNOWS he was a disappointment and is taking steps to correct it.

Krol told the Free Press:

What I need to do differently than last year, most importantly, is probably getting in the workout room more often,” Krol said this morning, before the Tigers took to the practice fields for their first full-squad workout of spring training. Krol, 23, said he needs to be better with his workout regimen, “whether it’s little things, whether it’s big things. “Just getting in there every day, keeping yourself healthy. Last year, I shied away from lifting and keeping my body in shape and got a little sloppy with it.”

Krol made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his young career last year and was actually one of the better and more reliable options in the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen early on. Phil Coke was an utter train wreck at the start of the season while Krol filled the lefty hole by posting an ERA sub 2.00 through much of April and May, but then as Coke got on track, Krol became the train wreck.

He was injured in June, came back and couldn’t get outs and was sent to Toledo near the end of July, and one final time near the end of August. Krol was not among the September call-ups.

With his renewed attitude, and the fact that we know he can be effective, Krol should be a reliable option out of the bullpen.

Sep 20, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Tyler Collins (18) connects for a one run single in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

#3:  Tyler Collins

Tyler Collins is an under-the-radar type of guy and figures to be the Detroit Tigers’ fifth outfielder this season. The 24-year-old has been moving around the Tigers’ organization since he was drafted in 2011, appearing in an increasing number of games for the team in Spring Training from 2012 to 2014.

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He was a good story coming out of Lakeland last year. While he struggled a bit toward the end of camp, which ended up lasting into the season, he made the season-opening roster for the first time in his career, making his debut Opening Day. Collins didn’t notch his first hit until his seventh game of the season, a two-hit performance in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, but that would be it for that stint.

Collins was sent down to Toledo in exchange for J.D. Martinez and because of J.D. Mart’s success he was stranded in the minors despite hitting for power with 18 homers in 121 games at Toledo. After being called up in September, Collins immediately got busy, hitting a three-run homer in Cleveland on September 1.

It should be interesting to see how Collins will do without regular at-bats because he seemed to struggle a bit with that early on last year. Though he won’t be a starter, Tyler represents one main focus of the offseason: a deeper bench.

Jul 29, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joakim Soria (38) pitches in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#2: Joakim Soria

After arriving from Texas near the trading deadline last year, Joakim Soria was greeted as a savior. The back end of the Tigers’ bullpen was a mess. Joba Chamberlain had started the season strong, but was faltering post All-Star Break and Joe Nathan never got it started, so Soria’s arrival meant he’d move into one of those roles, right?

Betsided

Wrong.

Soria had no clear role from the start as the Tigers’ brass seemed inexplicably willing to move Joba and/or Nathan out. This led to a rather uncharacteristic bad stretch for Soria. It is almost as if the Tigers seem cursed in the bullpen and anyone they use always implodes.

Eventually he settled in to his role, or lack thereof. After allowing six runs in his first three appearances, and missing time due to injury, Soria allowed just one run in his final 10 regular season appearances. He got knocked around in ALDS Game 2, but really he came into an impossible situation left by Chamberlain.

Throughout his seven-year career, he has excelled except for 2011 in Kansas City when arm troubles pushed him into Tommy John Surgery. He has a career ERA of 2.58 and 1.057 WHIP.

It’s also a contract year for him so expect him to be a lock-down 8th inning option throughout this season.

Feb 23, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Shane Greene (61) pitches during Monday mornings workout at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Shane Greene

Many Detroit Tigers fans were not enamored with some of the trades Dave Dombrowski orchestrated this offseason, but one that was pretty much universally liked was bringing Shane Greene in from the New York Yankees for mainly Robbie Ray (who went to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-way deal).

Greene showed incredible poise for a rookie on the massive stage of being a Yankee in 2014. New York’s pitching staff was battered last year with the injuries of veteran C.C. Sabathia and dynamic international rookie Masahiro Tanaka. Greene came up in July and started 14 games for the remainder of the season.

He appeared on the Tigers’ radar by dominating them in two outings, allowing two runs over 15 innings (winning each game).

Greene is a strikeout pitcher (averaging one per inning), so he fits the Tigers’ mold pretty well. Sure his ERA is somewhat bloated, though you could argue that had a lot to do with the new(er) Yankee Stadium, a place where every Yankees’ pitcher has struggled since it opened. Remember how good Sabathia used to be?

He got hit around near the end of the season, a pair of six-run games drove up his ERA, but finished with a respectable (for his age) 3.78 ERA and 1.398 WHIP.

The Tigers have two big questions marks at the end of their rotation. Greene and Alfredo Simon are not as proven as the Tigers’ former fourth and fifth starters of Fister and Rick Porcello, however everyone has to start somewhere.

As far as Greene starting somewhere, he has already been solid in New York as a rookie in their homer-friendly park and should begin to become an even better pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in 2015.

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