Detroit Tigers: Spring Training Heroes of the Past

One of my favorite traditions of when the Detroit Tigers head to Lakeland to start spring training is the storylines that are formed and in certain cases, attached to a Hall of Famer or forgotten about.

Growing up as a Detroit Tigers fan, you may remember Sparky Anderson glowing about Chris Pittaro in spring training of 1985. He made such an impression on Anderson that it would be the second-biggest move he would ever make involving a player.

The first Anderson said was converting Pete Rose from the outfield to third base.  These type of headlines is what makes spring training down in Lakeland memorable.

Another one that comes to mind, especially for anyone who grew up watching the Detroit Tigers in the early 2000s (If you remember this name, well done) was the catcher who hit two doubles off Greg Maddux.  Give up?

Mike Rivera,

who would win the Opening Day catcher spot in 2002. The pitcher quoted in the story Bill Simas, was a pitcher trying to earn a spot in camp. He played five seasons with the Chicago White Sox from 1996 to 2000 before bouncing around the minors until 2010.

So let’s get back to modern times and check out these stat gems. Thanks to Chris Brown for helping me locate these stats as they can be hard to dig up.

Detroit Tigers 2006 and up spring training All-Stars:

2019 

C – Grayson Greiner – 14 G, 32 AB, 10H, 5 2B, HR, 4BB, 9K, .313/.389/.563

2B – Josh Harrison – 17G, 41AB, 15H, 6 2B, HR, 7BB, 14 K, .366/.469/.585

OF – Daz Cameron – 16G, 28 AB, 10H, 4 2B, 3B, 2HR, 4BB, 9K, .357/.438/.786

1B/DH – Miggy – 20G, 47AB, 16H, 3 2B, 5HR, 7BB, 17K, .340/.418/.723

RHP – Turnbull – 5G, 2GS, 15IP, 13H, 3ER, 2BB, 15K, 1.80 ERA, 1.000 WHIP

LHP – Stumpf – 10G, 10.2IP, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 15K

2018 

UTIL – Niko Goodrum – 22G, 45AB, 13H, 4 2B, 4HR, 3SB, 3BB, 14K, .289/.327/.644 – won him a spot on the roster

2017

OF – Alex Presley – 25G, 33AB, 15H, 6 2B, 2 HR, 4BB, 4K, .455/.526/.818

2016

OF – Steven Moya – 15G, 30AB, 11H, 2B, 4HR, 1BB, 5K, .367/.387/.800

2015

OF – Daniel Fields – 14G, 29AB, 10H, 3 2B, 2HR, 2SB, 2BB, 8K, .345/.394/.655

2014

IF – Alex Gonzalez – 16G, 36AB, 15H, 2 2B, 2HR, 4BB, 5K, .417/.475/.639 – Played 9 games for the Tigers

2013

Matt Tuiasosopo – 30G, 60AB, 17H, 6 2B, 4HR, 7BB, 20K, .283/.368/.658 – won a job

2012 – The Year of Hope

Delmon Young – 23G, 63 AB, 24H, 6 2B, 6HR, 2 BB, 10K, .381/.394/.762

Ryan Raburn – 21G, 56 AB, 15H, 2 2B, 3B, 6HR, 6BB, 9K, .268/.333/.661

Brennan Boesch – 24G, 73AB, 21H, 4 2B, 3B, 6HR, 3BB, 13K, .288/.312/.616

2011 – The farm system is coming up 

Ryan Raburn – 20G, 57AB, 18H, 2B, 3B, 4HR, 5BB, 14K, .316/.381/.579

Brennan Boesch – 24G, 72AB, 25H, 2 2B, 4HR, 6BB, 12K, .347/.413/.542

2010

Casper Wells –  14G, 26AB, 10H, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 2BB, 5K, .385/.414/.692

Clete Thomas – 14G, 36AB, 14H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 7BB, 9K, .389/.500/.583

Ryan Raburn – 19G, 54AB, 20H, 4 2B, 3HR, 9BB, 11K, .370/.469/.611

2009

Josh Anderson – 24G, 70AB, 20H, 3 2B, 3B, 2HR, 5SB, 4BB, 11K, .286/.324/.443 – won a job

(A name I have totally forgotten about)

2008 – Vets go nuts

Pudge – 21G, 59AB, 22H, 4 2B, 8HR, 3BB, 11K, .373/.403/.847

Polanco – 23G, 71AB, 29H, 6 2B, 3B, 4HR, 4BB,1K, .408/.447/.690

Guillen – 24G, 67AB, 21H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 7HR, 7BB, 7K, .313/.373/.716

2007

Cameron Maybin – 17G, 21AB, 9H, 2 3B, 2 HR, SB, 4BB, 5K, .429/.520/.905

Timo Perez – 21G, 41AB, 14H, 2 2B, 3HR, 2SB, 5BB, 3K, .341/.404/.610

2006

Josh Phelps – 15G, 32AB, 17H, 6 2B, 3HR, 4BB, 5K, .531/.595/1.000 – didn’t make team

Brent Clevlen – 14G, 31AB, 10H, 2 2B, 3HR, SB, 7BB, 8K, .323/.447/.677

Vance WIlson – 20G, 50AB, 17H, 4 2B,5HR, 2BB, 6K, .340/.382/.720