Jace Jung's new position at Tigers spring training leaves fans scratching their heads

Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney's almost simultaneous promotions in August 2024 felt like a breath of fresh air at the time. The Tigers were on the verge of their miraculous playoff push — but no one knew that yet. Detroit had nothing to lose by bringing up two top prospects to audition for more prominent roles in 2025.

They were both rather unexceptional in their first 30-odd games in the majors, plus a few postseason plate appearances, but the Tigers made it to October based on grit and a whole lot of luck. There was no reason to write them off so quickly.

And then 2025 happened, and it might be an understatement to say that both disappointed. Jung was demoted by mid-May and then brought up for a short spell at the end of the season; Sweeney played in more games but was demoted and recalled twice.

But the Tigers aren't quick to give up on their top prospects, so both kept their places on the 40-man roster and are in major league camp. Jung even has a new assignment that might have Spencer Torkelson raising his eyebrows.

Jace Jung spotted at Tigers spring training taking reps at first base as Detroit tries to find a role for him

Torkelson is still the Tigers' no-brainer first baseman in 2026, but the team is clearly still trying to find a way to carve out a role for Jung, who came up through the minors as a third baseman and has spent the vast majority of his major league appearances there. Splitting some time with Colt Keith, who figures to be the Tigers' first full-time third baseman since Jeimer Candelario, makes sense, but Detroit likes to keep their options open.

Right now, the Tigers bench looks like it'll hold Jake Rogers, Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling, and Jahmai Jones, and Jones is perhaps the most movable player given the organization's love of both McKinstry and Vierling — and their ability to play all over the field. Jones could be vulnerable, but he's a very rare righty in the Tigers' almost unbelievably lefty-packed offense.

Maybe the Tigers still aren't fully sold on Torkelson despite his bounce back 2025, and Torkelson does still have a minor league option left.

At the very least, the Tigers clearly just aren't willing to give up on Jung quite yet (even though some Tigers fans certainly think they should), and we might have to keep an eye on him if any of Detroit's fringier players have a bad spring.