Detroit Tigers: Steven Moya Makes Anthony Gose Expendable

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus moved Justin Upton to center field and started Steven Moya in left field. If this lineup sticks, Anthony Gose could be expendable.

Detroit Tigers fans, and frankly baseball fans and observers in general, weren’t used to seeing Justin Upton play center field before Thursday’s game in Baltimore.

Upton had never played the position at the Major League level before, but did well against the Orioles. You would not have known that the last time he played the position was in 2007 with Double-A Mobile of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ farm system. The 28-year-old handled every ball hit his way and generally looked solid defensively.

That display, coupled with Steven Moya’s encouraging 2016 debut (both at the plate and in left field) could potentially see Ausmus stick with the outfield grouping until Cameron Maybin returns from his rehab stint in Toledo.

Per the Tigers’ official Twitter account, the manager is at least going with the same outfield grouping for a second consecutive game. The team’s Twitter account announced that Moya will once again start in left field. Because of this, Upton will start in center field for the second contest of a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Moya’s Debut

Steven Moya is back at the Major League level, and if all goes to plan, he could stick with the team. The outfielder has always been touted as a top prospect due to his raw power. Given playing time, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the 24-year-old eventually slug 40 home runs in a season—he has that kind of pop.

The slugger struggled last season in Triple-A, producing just a .240 batting average, 20 home runs, 74 RBI and 162 strikeouts in just 126 games. However, he seems to have turned a corner this season.

In 31 games for Toledo in 2016, Moya bumped his batting average to .310, to go along with 24 RBI, 23 runs scored, 11 doubles, nine home runs and a triple. The fact that he struck out 29 times in 31 games isn’t going to do him any favors, but it marks a significant improvement over last season.

Some of this is clearly due to Moya’s new, wider batting stance. The altered stance is clearing working, as evidenced by the significant improvement shown at the plate.

While the former top prospect did strike out twice in his debut, one punch out came on a 2-2 pitch that Moya looked at for strike three. That pitch was borderline, and you can’t fault the hitter for taking it.

The left-handed hitter did collect two hits, including one that he threaded through the shift in his first at-bat of the season. Moya also displayed a strong arm when he threw home on a potential sacrifice fly.

2016 Outlook

While Moya showed well, he likely isn’t going to be a full-time starter all season. The Detroit Tigers acquired Cameron Maybin for a reason, to play center field. Once Maybin returns, he’ll take the starting job in center and shift Upton back to left.

However, that doesn’t mean Moya should head back to Toledo.

After destroying Triple-A pitching this season, the towering outfielder doesn’t have a whole lot, if anything, to prove in the minors.

Detroit should keep him around as a bench option.

Moya can serve as the backup to both Upton in left field, and J.D. Martinez in right field. On days when Maybin needs a day off, Moya can start in left while Upton slides over to center. Andrew Romine can also handle center field if need be.

Additionally, Moya would give Ausmus a potentially game-changing pinch hitter thanks to his ability to hit it out of the ball park. Saltalamacchia could have been that pinch hitter, but James McCann’s injury opened the door for more playing time for the former Marlin. Salty has played himself into more at-bats, and won’t strictly be a backup, leaving the bench thin.

Moya would be a significant offensive upgrade over the likes of Gose, Romine, Aviles, and potentially James McCann should Salty start more—which at this point, he probably should.