Max Anderson's MiLB Gold Glove win should solidify his place on Tigers' 2027 roster

Scott Harris has promised that No. 10 prospect Max Anderson will factor into the Tigers' plans for 2027, after he hit .302 with a .863 OPS in 108 Triple-A games this season. With Gleyber Torres gone, Anderson and Hao-Yu Lee will presumably share second base, with the occasional turn at third.

Lee impressed with his bat this season — he was the Tigers' best hitter in June — but the glove clearly needs a lot of work. Defensive stats for minor leaguers are hard to pin down (and fielding percentage is not to be trusted), but Anderson's 40-grade arm and 45-grade field leaves some room to be concerned about his capabilities at second and third, too. The bat was the real calling card.

So it was a pleasant surprise when Rawlings announced Anderson as a Minor League Baseball Gold Glove winner for his work at second base. Maybe he's made some real strides this season, or he was never as weak a defensive player as advertised, but it's a good sign that Detroit's middle infield won't be totally helpless next year.

Tigers No. 10 prospect Max Anderson wins MiLB Gold Glove award at second base

The Tigers will have no shortage of infield options with Spencer Torkelson at first; Lee and Anderson at second; John Peck, Kevin McGonigle, and Javy Báez at shortstop; and any of Lee, Anderson, McGonigle, and Báez at third. That's not even to mention Colt Keith, who doesn't have a defined role, and Zach McKinstry, who the Tigers like to employ all over the diamond.

It's a crowded field, but the Tigers will certainly be watching to see the cream rise to the top. Not even Torkelson was guaranteed an everyday role by the end of 2026, so McGonigle may be the only truly immovable part of the picture. The rest will be duking it out for playing time.

Anderson is coming in at a disadvantage as the new guy on the scene, but he seems more than prepared to try to carve out his own place in the lineup.

Detroit will certainly want to see how he does in spring training against some major league pitching, but he's been a highly anticipated piece of the puzzle for well over a year by now. If his defense at second is Gold Glove-worthy and his bat can translate to the majors, he's all but guaranteed a spot on next year's Opening Day roster.

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