Detroit Tigers: Breaking Down Center Field Competition

Detroit Tigers fans will see a new center fielder in 2017 with Cameron Maybin now with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Here is a breakdown of the current candidates for the job.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Tyler Collins is just one of a handful of players in camp competing for the starting gig in center field.

Collins, Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones and Anthony Gose are all in the mix for playing time heading into the 2017 season.

Whoever ends up seeing the lion’s share of playing time will be tasked with replacing an outfielder in Maybin who turned in an excellent campaign in 2016.

Despite playing in just 94 games, Maybin finished with the fourth-highest WAR among Tigers position players with a 2.0 numbers.

The former first-round draft pick also turned in a 120 wRC+, a .353 wOBA, a .383 on-base percentage and a .103 ISO.

Maybin also added 65 runs scored, 43 RBI, 15 stolen bases, 14 doubles, five triples and four home runs.

It remains to be seen who will replace the fleet-of-foot center fielder, but Detroit certainly has options.

Here’s a breakdown of where Detroit’s options stack up in terms of offense, defense and running the bases.