Detroit Tigers: Breaking Down Center Field Competition

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Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Cameron Maybin (4) catches a fly ball against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

Apr 14, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Tyler Collins (18) hits an RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning in an inter-league game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Offense

In terms of the aforementioned three categories, this may be the toughest in terms of finding the best fit.

The three that standout as having the most offensive upside are Tyler Collins, Mikie Mahtook and JaCoby Jones.

Collins has certainly flashed upside in the past, and may be the best offensive threat in the short term given his pop.

The outfielder hit 18 home runs and drove in 62 runs with a 108 wRC+ in his last full season with Triple-A Toledo.

Given a full season’s worth of at-bats, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Collins replicate those numbers in Detroit—especially in such a potent Tigers lineup.

Mikie Mahtook is another player who has shown significant potential with the bat in the past.

Mahtook burst onto the scene in 2015 in his first taste of Major League action with Tampa Bay.

The 26-year-old hit .295 with a 167 wRC+, a .619 slugging percentage, a .411 wOBA, a .351 on-base percentage and a .324 ISO.

Additionally, Mahtook chipped in with 22 runs scored and 19 RBI. He also added nine home runs, five doubles, four stolen bases and a triple.

Obviously, most of the outfielder’s 2015 stats are unsustainable. However, if he can perform at a level somewhat near that, he’ll find a way onto the field.

JaCoby Jones is perhaps the biggest wild card of the group. The prospect has the upside to be a dynamic player at the Major League Level.

The outfielder is an excellent athlete with speed and raw power.

Long-term, Jones looks like the future of the position in Detroit. However, he enters Spring Training with just 13 games of Major League experience.

If he can make an impact early, he may stay in the Majors for good.

Jun 4, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Mikie Mahtook (27) makes a sliding catch to end the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

Defense

Defensively, it comes down to Jones, Anthony Gose and Mahtook.

Collins has only played 30 games in center field defensively, including 29 last season.

Things could change, but the 26-year-old struggled mightily. The outfielder turned in a -4 DRS, a -1.8 UZR and a -11.4 UZR/150.

The likes of Jones, Gose and Mahtook could provide better options on defense.

With his athleticism and speed, Jones is an above-average defensive outfielder waiting to happen.

He obviously doesn’t have the Major League numbers to back it up, but Jones will make an impact on defense when called upon for Detroit.

Mikie Mahtook on the other hand, does have the numbers to back it up.

Last season in center field for the Rays, the outfielder logged a DRS of two, a 1.3 UZR and a 10.5 UZR/150 in center field.

Rounding out the list is Gose.

Like Jones, his speed will help him make plays defensively and navigate the expanse that is center field in Comerica Park.

However, from a statistical standpoint, the former Blue Jay had a mixed bag of a season in 2016.

Gose finished with a -3 DRS, but posted a 1.3 UZR and a 7.0 UZR/150 in his time with the Detroit Tigers.

Aug 31, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones (40) runs the bases against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Base Running

Once again, stats don’t tell the whole story.

Anthony Gose may be the fastest player on the Detroit Tigers roster, but turned in just a -0.6 BsR and a -0.4 UBR last season.

He stole 23 bases for Detroit in 2015, and swiped over 70 stolen bases in a season in the minors twice, so the ability is there.

Gose’ base running also makes him a threat as a potential pinch runner late in games.

Similar to Gose, Jones’ speed will help him make an impact on the base paths.

In only 13 games with the Tigers last season, the top prospect finished seventh on the team in BsR with a 0.7 number.

He also ranked sixth on the squad in UBR with a 0.6 stat.

Given a more consistent playing time over the course of a season, Jones could improve on those numbers significantly.

With just four Major League stolen bases and only 33 in 257 career games at the Triple-A level, Mahtook may not make the same kind of impact as Gose and Jones on the base paths.

Next: Finding a Role for Mike Pelfrey

However, he’s shown promise in the past with a 1.0 BsR and a 0.7 UBR with the Rays in 2015.

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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.

Offense

Defense

Base Running

Schedule