Detroit Tigers: Potential X-Factors for the 2017 Season

Detroit Tigers fans will see a similar team on Opening Day. While the likes of Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera will still be key, here are some other potential X-factors.

Detroit Tigers teams in years past have been led by some standout players.

From Ian Kinsler and Justin Verlander, to Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, Detroit certainly hasn’t been lacking impact performers.

After an offseason that saw just Cameron Maybin dealt, those same impact players will return.

Last season, Detroit just missed out on a return trip to the playoffs.

While last year’s core could very well propel the Tigers back into the postseason, the team will need other players to step up as well.

With so few roster spots up for grabs, there aren’t many candidates to choose from outside the roster.

However, there are plenty of players who either didn’t perform well last season, or didn’t get much playing time who could make an impact.

If the Tigers can get solid contributions from everyone on the roster, they have a chance to make some serious noise moving forward.

Here are three players who could become X-factors for the Detroit Tigers heading into the 2017 regular season.

JaCoby Jones
Position: Center Field
Age: 24
Hits: Right-Handed

With Cameron Maybin now in the American League West following an offseason trade to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Detroit Tigers are in need of a new center fielder.

As of now, the candidates to replace Maybin include Tyler Collins, Mikie Mahtook, Anthony Gose and JaCoby Jones.

What’s more, Jones is looking more and more like a player capable of taking over the job on a full-time basis.

A potential plus defender due to his athleticism, Jones has been impressive at the plate so far this spring.

In 13 games in Grapefruit League play, the outfielder is batting .346 with a .393 on-base percentage, a .615 slugging percentage and a 1.008 OPS.

Jones has also chipped in with six runs scored, two home runs, two stolen bases, two RBI and a double.

What is perhaps most encouraging about the top prospect’s spring numbers is that he’s only struck out four times in 26 at-bats.

The fact that Jones is already starting to cut down on his strikeouts is promising considering he’s only 24.

If the former Pittsburgh Pirates farmhand can win the center field job, he could add an intriguing element to the Detroit Tigers lineup.

Jones brings plenty of speed and pop to the lineup, and it isn’t hard to imagine him producing 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases given a single season’s worth of at-bats.

Jordan Zimmermann
Position: Starting Pitcher
Age: 30
Throws: Right Handed

Last season, the Detroit Tigers began the season with a veteran-heavy rotation.

Justin Verlander led the way, with Jordan Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez, Shane Greene and Mike Pelfrey filling out the rest of the group.

Verlander obviously still headlines Detroit’s rotation. However, of the remaining group, only Zimmermann remains in the rotation picture.

Much of that has to do with the veteran’s track record.

From 2011 to 2014, Zimmermann won an average of 13 games while posting an overall ERA of 3.00.

He averaged 192 innings per campaign, while never posting FIP over 3.52.

The former Washington Nationals starter looked the part early for the Tigers last season, posting a 2.58 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .281 on-base percentage in his first 10 starts.

In those 10 starts, Detroit went 8-2 while the veteran racked up 66.1 innings pitched.

Should Zimmermann pitch like he did early in 2016, the Detroit Tigers will be in an excellent position to return to the postseason.

A bounce-back season from the veteran will be particularly important in the playoffs, as it would allow Detroit to slot in a proven arm behind Verlander and Michael Fulmer in a series.

Next: Tigers Make Moves

With a trio of Verlander, Fulmer and Jordan Zimmermann all pitching effectively at the top of Detroit’s rotation, the Tigers will boast one of the league’s top starting pitching units.