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Detroit Tigers Links: Miggy comes through, Soria, Joba, Daniel Fields

By Matt Pelc |

Miguel Cabrera loves playing the game of baseball and just because the Detroit Tigers’ slugger can’t currently play doesn’t mean he is not going to have fun.

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A couple of days ago, Chris Iott had the story of Miggy inviting a kid on the field, playing catch with him and taking a picture with him. Just Miggy being Miggy.

With all the pitchers we’ve seen in games this spring, we have not seen a couple of keys to the bullpen including Joba Chamberlain, Joakim Soria and Bruce Rondon. We will see each in the coming days.

A seemingly forgotten prospect, Daniel Fields is working hard to have a role in the Detroit Tigers’ organization now and into the future. He’s done well so far, including a homer yesterday.

Michigan boy gets more than he bargained for with photo, signed ball from Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera – Chris Iott, MLive

Grant Morren, a 12-year-old from Hudsonville, Mich., got more than he bargained for Friday morning while hanging out with his family at Joker Marchant Stadium. While a good chunk of the Detroit Tigers team was in Port St. Lucie for a game against the New York Mets, some players were back in Lakeland going through workouts and taking batting practice on the field.Grant was sitting with his family at the rail next to the third-base dugout when Cabrera stepped out of the cage. That’s when Grant asked for an autograph.“Grant asked him in Spanish,” said Grant’s mother, Nancy Morren. “He said, ‘Señor Cabrera, una pelota por favor.’ Miguel said, ‘Pasa, pasa,” which is ‘come here.’ ”

Soria, Chamberlain set for spring debuts – Jason Beck, MLB.com

While Soria and Chamberlain will make their Grapefruit League debuts on Sunday against the Astros at Joker Marchant Stadium, Rondon will face hitters in live batting practice one more time on Monday morning. If that goes well, he’s expected to make his first game appearance on Thursday. The Tigers have a split-squad set that afternoon — hosting the Phillies, while also visiting the Astros.“[Rondon] hasn’t seen hitters [in games] for so long, I just want him to throw one more batting practice,” pitching coach Jeff Jones said on Saturday morning.Rondon threw live BP on Friday morning and felt fine. His velocity was “really good,” according to Jones, as was his changeup. As is the case with many pitchers coming off elbow ligament replacement, Rondon’s slider — his secondary pitch of choice in 2013 — is going to be a work in progress, given the stress the pitch often puts on an elbow.

Tigers prospect Fields ‘stronger, healthier’ – Lynn Henning, Detroit News

A former prodigy at U-D Jesuit High, Fields is trying to re-establish himself as a top-tier prospect, although top-tier disabilities have been his specialty during too many of year minor-league seasons. Last year was all too typical: a broken hand cost him months and held him to only 75 games at Triple A Toledo.Thursday, he looked like the 6-foot-2, 223-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder the Tigers were happy to pay a handsome bonus ($1.6 million) to sign when they grabbed him in the sixth round in 2009.Fields laced a double to right-center in the seventh inning, which helped push Wade Gaynor to third base, led to the third Tigers run.“I spent the offseason getting stronger and healthier,” said Fields, son of former Tigers outfielder and coach Bruce Fields, who now is the team’s roving minor-league hitting instructor.

Next: Verlander throws 2 shutout innings as Tigers roll

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