Detroit Tigers: Players Who Just Missed Out on Opening Day Roster Who Could Appear This Season

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila added plenty of depth in the offseason. With the 2017 season underway, here are six players who didn’t make Detroit’s Opening Day squad who could contribute.

Detroit Tigers players opened the 2017 with an encouraging 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The Tigers by and large came away victorious thanks to an excellent outing – 10 strikeouts, six hits and two runs allowed in 6.1 innings—from Justin Verlander.

Ian Kinsler also started 2017 off on the right foot with a superb game, stuffing the stat sheet in the process.

The second baseman collected a pair of hits, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI in three at-bats.

While both veterans were key, and will continue to be essential all season, the Tigers will need all hands on deck this season.

This means starters down in the batting order producing, as well as bench and depth pieces performing at a high level.

Detroit already has started to benefit in 2017, with JaCoby Jones turning in a strong Opening Day.

The young center fielder took Chicago ace Jose Quintana deep in his first at-bat of the season, before stealing a base later in the game.

If players like Jones, Mikie Mahtook, James McCann and Dixon Machado can all improve in 2017, the Tigers will be in a good place.

What’s more, if depth pieces like Blaine Hardy can come in and contribute, it will go a long ways towards Detroit making it back to the playoffs.

Here are some players who just missed out on the Opening Day roster who could play a role for the Detroit Tigers in 2017.

Blaine Hardy
Age: 30
Position: Relief Pitcher
Throws: Left-Handed

This one is easy because Blaine Hardy is actually with the Detroit Tigers right now.

Although the 30-year-old didn’t make Detroit’s Opening Day roster, he’s currently on the team with fellow left-hander Kyle Ryan on the paternity list.

Moving forward, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Hardy rack up innings for the Tigers this season.

All the southpaw has done in his career has been produce, with an even 3.00 ERA in 126 innings since making his debut in 2014.

Hardy also owns a 3.30 FIP over the same span, while striking out 7.6 batters per nine innings.

The Washington native pitched to a 3.97 ERA in 11.1 Grapefruit League innings, and should continue to contribute to the Tigers all season.

John Hicks
Age: 27
Position: Catcher
Hits: Right-Handed

Every team needs a third catcher who is a phone call away in Triple-A, and for the Detroit Tigers, that’s John Hicks.

Even with Bryan Holaday back with the Mud Hens and Grayson Greiner steadily climbing the organizational ladder, Hicks remains the only one of the trio who is on the 40-man roster.

This makes his path to the Majors much easier in the event of an injury to James McCann or Alex Avila.

While Hicks only batted .120 with a home run and three RBI in 16 Spring Training games, he showed plenty of promise in the minors last year.

In 93 games split between Double-A and Triple-A in Minnesota and Detroit’s minor league systems, Hicks batted .310 with an .838 OPS.

He also chipped in with 47 RBI, 23 doubles, 10 home runs, four stolen bases and a triple. Overall, the backstop threw out 38% of would-be base stealers.

Alex Presley
Age: 31
Position: Outfielder
Hits: Left-Handed

As of now, the Detroit Tigers are utilizing four healthy outfielders by trade in Justin Upton, JaCoby Jones, Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins.

There’s also Andrew Romine, who can see time in the outfield grass, as well as the injured J.D. Martinez.

Outside of that group, Alex Presley may be the next best option.

A rare left-handed bat—at least in terms of Detroit’s right-handed heavy lineup—Presley was arguably Detroit’s best position player in Grapefruit League.

The Major League veteran hit .455 with a .536 on-base percentage, an .818 slugging percentage and a 1.344 OPS. He also contributed 11 runs scored, six doubles, five RBI and a pair of home runs.

What’s more, Presley drew the same number of walks (four) as strikeouts.

Considering he can play all three outfield spots and hits left-handed, the former Pirate is a quality depth piece to have.

It doesn’t hurt that he can make an impact on the bases.

Presley stole 14 bases for Houston’s Triple-A affiliate in 2015, and owns a career 3.1 BsR and a 4.9 UBR.

Arcenio Leon
Age: 30
Position: Relief Pitcher
Throws: Right-Handed

We resume the relief pitcher part of this article with Arcenio Leon.

The 30-year-old has never appeared in the Major Leagues, and spent last season closing games for Monclova in the Mexican League.

However, he stood out in Spring Training thanks to his blazing fastball and some quality numbers.

The reliever struck out four batters in 4.2 innings, while allowing four hits, two walks and two runs.

That’s obviously a small sample size, but Leon did turn in a 3.30 ERA, 7.6 punch outs per nine frames and 36 saves in 62.2 innings for Monclova last season.

Next: See Where Tigers Sit in Latest Power Rankings

If he can post similar numbers with Toledo early in the campaign, he could very well be pitching out of the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen later this season.