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Detroit Tigers: Who should start in Left Field?

By Andy Patton

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: JaCoby Jones #40 of the Detroit Tigers makes a diving attempt but was unable to catch a hit by Ehire Adrianza #16 of the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning during of their baseball game on September 30, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: JaCoby Jones #40 of the Detroit Tigers makes a diving attempt but was unable to catch a hit by Ehire Adrianza #16 of the Minnesota Twins in the seventh inning during of their baseball game on September 30, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 03: Left fielder Mikie Mahtook #8 of the Detroit Tigers catches a fly ball hit by Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals for an out during the second inning at Comerica Park on April 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 03: Left fielder Mikie Mahtook #8 of the Detroit Tigers catches a fly ball hit by Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals for an out during the second inning at Comerica Park on April 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Mikie Mahtook

The first, and likely preferred, option for the Tigers is to have Mahtook be the primary left fielder. The team is in rebuilding mode, and they are in no rush to call up any of their outfield prospects before they are ready (more on them later). It works best for the Tigers if Mahtook can regain the success he had in the second half last year (.283/.356/.486) and be a solid cog in Detroit’s lineup, at least for this year. Christin Stewart and Mike Gerber will likely be ready for big league duty by 2019 (if not sooner) so all the Tigers need is for Mahtook to hold it down until then – if he can.

JaCoby Jones

If he can’t, the next option is likely JaCoby Jones. Jones has displayed a tantalizing set of skills, with elite speed in center field and on the basepaths, along with potential 15-20 home run power. However, he also posted a comically bad 65 strikeouts in just 141 at-bats last year, compared to only nine walks. His plate discipline has been better in his first nine games this season, with only five strikeouts (22.7%) and three walks so far. The Tigers are seemingly grooming Jones to be a super utility player, having him take grounders at third base in spring training. A former shortstop, Jones has the athleticism to play around the diamond if necessary. His future is unlikely to be as a big league regular however, so the Tigers are hoping to keep him in a reserve role going forward.

Victor Reyes

Reyes has 516 plate appearances at Double-A and no experience at Triple-A under his belt, so making him a full-time starter could get ugly. While he has some nice tools, namely speed and good contact skills, he does not profile to be a big league starter. At least not right now. Reyes is best served as an occasional spot-starter and pinch-runner in 2018. Once the season ends, the Tigers will probably send him to Triple-A Toledo in 2019 to let him develop more. He has a future in Detroit, but shouldn’t have a major role this season.

Niko Goodrum

The wildcard option this year is Niko Goodrum, who started in left field for the Tigers on Tuesday against the Orioles. Obviously, Goodrum becoming the primary left fielder would be a problem for the Tigers, who would lose their utility infielder. If Goodrum starts hitting extremely well, the Tigers could send either a reliever or Jones down to Triple-A and recall either Ronny Rodriguez or Pete Kozma to be their utility infielder. This seems like an unlikely scenario, but a possibility considering the floundering of Detroit’s other left field options and manager Ron Gardenhire‘s unpredictability.

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