Detroit Tigers: Top Five Moments of 2017

The Detroit Tigers originally acquired Jacoby Jones at the trade deadline in 2015 for reliever Joakim Soria. Jones immediately impressed his new organization, blasting three home runs in his first game at Double-A.

Late in 2016 he got a chance to prove what he could do in the majors, receiving 28 at-bats as a September call-up. Although he only hit .214, he showed enough promise to make the Opening Day Roster in 2017. He even drew the start in center field, hitting eighth.

Jones immediately rewarded the Tigers for that decision, showing off his highly-touted power and speed in the contest.

In his first at-bat of the 2017 season, Jones faced off against All-Star left-hander Jose Quintana, then with the Chicago White Sox. With two outs and two men on, Jones lifted a fastball down the left field line and into the seats for a three-run home run.

Not to be outdone, Jones reached base again in the sixth inning. He stole second base off reliever Jake Petricka, giving the Tigers not only their first home run of the season but their first stolen base as well.

Jones is what scouts call a “toolsy” outfielder. He has power, speed, strong defensive instincts and a solid throwing arm. He still has plenty of holes in his game (most notably strikeouts) but he gave Tigers fans a good look at what he is capable of right from the get go last season.

Although his final season numbers (.170 average, three home runs, six stolen bases) are underwhelming, the 25-year-old still has time to find his groove and become a double-digit home run and stolen base threat in Detroit’s lineup for years to come.

On June 16, 2017, the Detroit Tigers finally got to see their superstar do what he does best. Miguel Cabrera, marred in a power drought that would last the whole season, delighted hometown fans by blasting a walk-off two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays reliever Tommy Hunter.

The home run was Miggy’s first since May 20.

Cabrera had a rough season in 2017. He hit .249 with 16 home runs and posted a meager 91 wRC+.

His lowest full-season wRC+ in a Tiger uniform before 2017 was a 129, posted in 2008.

Plenty of rumors surrounded Miggy during his tumultuous season: injuries, trouble at home, disillusions with the team, etc.

One thing is for sure though, Miggy will be given every chance to rebound in 2018.

With Victor Martinez still in the fold, Miggy will be the every day first baseman next season. His contract makes him nearly impossible to trade, so he will be out there padding his Hall of Fame resume and helping the young core of the Detroit Tigers grow and develop together.

Hopefully, he can provide plenty more moments like this one.

In the fourth inning of the Detroit Tigers game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 8, 2017, the Tigers did something they had not done since 2001.

They turned a triple play.

The fourth inning started rather auspiciously, with starter Buck Farmer striking out Jose Bautista who then reached base on a passed ball. Justin Smoak followed that up with a single, and Kendrys Morales singled again, scoring Bautista and moving Smoak to second base.

No outs, two runners on and a run already in certainly was not the ideal situation for the Tigers. They made an early move to the bullpen, bringing in reliever Drew VerHagen hoping he could limit the damage.

Indeed he did, getting center fielder Kevin Pillar to roll a groundball directly down the third base line. Rookie Jeimer Candelario fielded the ball smoothly and stepped on third. He fired the ball over to Ian Kinsler who smoothly turned the ball over to first baseman Efren Navarro, turning the first triple play for the Tigers since 2001.

Not only was the triple play a rare, exciting play for the Tigers, it was a huge rally killer for the Blue Jays. They entered the fifth inning trailing 4-2 after having two on and nobody out. Ian Kinsler went deep in the fifth inning to make it 5-2, and the Tigers went on to win 5-4.

Without that crucial triple play, the Tigers probably would have lost that game.

Matt Boyd, like many of the Detroit Tiger starting pitchers, struggled in 2017.

Heading into his 23rd appearance of the season, Boyd had himself a 5-10 record and a 5.75 ERA. But on September 17, 2017, Matt Boyd nearly tossed what would have been the eighth no-hitter in franchise history.

Boyd retired the first eight hitters in a row before walking #9 hitter Rob Brantly in the third inning. A groundout by Tim Anderson ended the frame. From there, Boyd really got going. He retired the next 17 hitters in a row, carving up the White Sox hitters while the Tigers piled on the runs. Detroit scored 12 runs in the game, getting home runs from Mikie Mahtook, Nicholas Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario.

Boyd started the ninth inning needing three outs to record the first no-hitter by a left-handed pitcher in Detroit history. He got off to a strong start, getting Adam Engel to pop out to Candelario in foul ground. Pinch-hitter Kevan Smith grounded out to second base, bringing up shortstop Tim Anderson with two outs in the ninth inning.

Unfortunately, the fun ended there. Anderson laced a double deep into right field, past Castellanos.

Yoan Moncada grounded out to third to end the game and give Boyd the complete game shutout, the first of his career.

Many fans lament over manager Brad Ausmus‘ decision to leave Castellanos in the game in right field. Castellanos struggled defensively in 2017 while adjusting to a new position.

However, the ball was hit very well by Anderson and seems unlikely to have been caught even by the most athletically gifted right fielder. It was just an unfortunately well timed hit by Anderson, costing Boyd a place in baseball history.

Regardless, this was one of (if not the most) fun game of the Tigers season, and a game Boyd will remember for the rest of his career.

Speaking of career-defining games:

Despite being well out of contention, September was a fun month for the Detroit Tigers. It ended with arguably the most memorable game of the season.

Manager Brad Ausmus, who had already been told his contract was not being renewed, decided to finish out his tenure by allowing utility-man Andrew Romine a chance to play all nine positions in one game.

Romine, 31, was not new to pitching. He had tossed 0.2 innings on July 26 in a 16-2 loss to the Royals. He had also pitched once in 2014 and again in 2016, so his appearance on the mound was nothing new.

Behind the plate, however, was a different story.

More from Detroit Tigers History

• Celebrating Willie Horton’s Return to the All-Star Game
• Of Trade Deadlines, Detroit Tigers, Fidrych, Smoltz, Skubal
• Recalling Each of the Current Detroit Tigers’ First MLB Hits
• Eduardo Rodriguez versus Justin Verlander: Money Well Spent?
• Detroit Tigers retired numbers

Catcher was the only position Romine had never played heading into this game. Romine only caught 0.1 innings, catching Blaine Hardy to lead off the seventh. He allowed one passed ball before a series of moves pushed Romine back to second base.

Romine then came in and pitched to start the eighth inning. He faced Miguel Sano and got him to ground out to third base.

He then moved over to first base and remained there for the rest of the game, even fielding the final groundout in the Tigers 3-2 victory.

Romine went 1-3 with a walk and a strikeout at the plate. His passed ball was his only negative fielding stat, and while at second base he was part of a 6-4-3 double play.

Romine, who is now a member of the Seattle Mariners, was the sixth player in MLB history to play all nine positions in a single game. The last time it happened was in 2000, when the Tigers allowed utility man Shane Halter to do it.

The Tigers won that game as well, 12-11.

Next: Morris and Trammell finally hear HOF call

There are sure to be plenty of exciting moments for the Detroit Tigers again in 2018. The beauty of baseball is that once in a lifetime moments can happen on any given day. Fans will want to make sure to take in as much Tigers baseball as possible in 2018, so they don’t miss any.