Detroit Tigers: Predicting 2020 Opening Day roster

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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers holds on to the ball after tagging out Kendrys Morales #8 of the Toronto Blue Jays at home plate in the seventh inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Catchers: James McCann and Jake Rogers

James McCann’s offensive resurgence this season has been extremely encouraging, especially for the future of the franchise.

A standout defensive backstop, McCann struggled mightily with at the dish in 2016, notching a .629 OPS, a 66 wRC+, 21 extra-base hits and a .137 ISO in 373 plate appearances.

In 352 plate appearances so far in 2017, the catcher owns a .770 OPS, a 104 wRC+, 27 extra-base hits and a .172 ISO.

One candidate to back up McCann is Jake Rogers.

One of the prospects picked up in the Justin Verlander blockbuster, Rogers also brings excellent defensive ability and some power to the table. He could develop into one of baseball’s better backstops.

With Rogers likely to debut with the Tigers sometime before 2020, it’s possible that the team could move John Hicks to first base at some point.

The 28-year-old would still provide depth behind the plate, but he’d see the bulk of his time at first.

Hicks has shown well this season in his first extended stint in the Majors.

After appearing in just 18 Major League games prior to Opening Day, the former fourth-round pick has seen action in 55 games so far in 2018, hitting .278 with a .335 on-base percentage, a .468 slugging percentage and an .804 OPS in 173 plate appearances.

He’s also added 25 runs scored, 22 RBI, 12 doubles, 11 walks, six home runs and a stolen base.

Hicks has also added a 111 wRC+, a .342 wOBA and a .190 ISO.

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