Detroit Tigers: Predicting Team’s Opening Day Bench

Detroit Tigers fans will likely see a similar lineup in 2017 as they did last season. Detroit wasn’t too active in the offseason, but return a strong nucleus. Here’s a prediction as to what the bench will look like.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus utilized a number of bench pieces last season as the team just missed out on a playoff berth.

As per usual, Andrew Romine led the way, notching a 0.6 WAR and a 71 wRC+ in 109 games. The utility ace saw action across the diamond for Detroit.

Romine appeared at every position except for catcher, even logging 0.2 innings of work on the mound.

Additionally, Jarrod Saltalamacchia stepped in and provided some pop. The backup catcher posted a .175 ISO and 12 home runs in 92 games during his lone season in Detroit.

Elsewhere, Tyler Collins (56 games) and Anthony Gose (30 games) saw action in center field when Cameron Maybin missed time due to injury.

The Tigers initially began the season with Mike Aviles as another utility option, but the former Royals player struggled, with a -1.4 WAR, a .258 on-base percentage and a wRC+ of 41.

Aviles was latter shipped to Atlanta along with catching prospect Kade Scivicque for fellow utility player Erick Aybar.

What’s more, the likes of JaCoby Jones and Dixon Machado both had brief stints with the Tigers down the stretch. The prospects appeared in in 13 and eight games respectively.

2017 Outlook

Heading into 2017, the Detroit Tigers bench will look significantly.

Romine is an obvious lock to make the team given his defensive versatility.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s been hitting the cover off the ball, with a .347 batting average, a .592 slugging percentage and a .945 OPS in 49 Grapefruit League at-bats.

The super-sub has also added eight RBI, four doubles, two home runs, two stolen bases and a triple for the Tigers.

Saltalamacchia departed in free agency. The Tigers replaced him with old friend Alex Avila, who should bring a steady blend of walks and pop to the bench unit.

Aybar also moved on as a free agent. As of now, the most likely player to step in for the former Angel is Machado, who is hitting .276 this spring with a .617 OPS.

What is perhaps most encouraging about the young infielder is that he’s now seeing time at both third base and second base in addition to shortstop.

A potential long-term replacement for Jose Iglesias, Machado could potentially see more playing time this season as a key bench cog.

The last bench spot is perhaps the trickiest to predict.

It will likely come from the outfield, where the starting center field job is still up for grabs.

Should JaCoby Jones or Mikie Mahtook win the gig, expect Tyler Collins to make the bench as a reserve outfielder.

The 26-year-old is out of options, and the Tigers could potentially lose him to another team if he doesn’t make the Opening Day unit.

However, if Collins wins the center field competition, Mahtook seems the likely candidate to be on the team.

The former first-round pick has plenty of upside at the plate and is a quality defender.

In this hypothetical scenario, Detroit would be able to give Jones more consistent playing time at Triple-A Toledo.