Parker Meadows stumbling out of spring training gate has Tigers facing uncomfortable situation

The dog days of spring training can be a dangerous time for baseball fans. There's certainly excitement over the return of baseball, and this spring has some added flair because of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but there can be overreactions to the performances on the field.

Not every spring training folk hero is going to be a contributor for a team during the regular season, but slow starts can be discouraging — especially for players like Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows, who is trying to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025 campaign.

Injuries limited Meadows to just 58 games last year, and the hope is that they were also a factor in his struggles at the plate. The former second-round pick slashed .215/.291/.330 last year in 213 plate appearances with a wRC+ of 75.

Tigers may need a backup plan after Parker Meadows' slow spring training start

Meadows' offensive production left a lot to be desired last season, and it was none more apparent than when the offense collectively regressed during the Tigers' postseason run last year.

Rather than learn from that regression and seek upgrades this offseason, the Tigers have doubled down on health. The hope is that Meadows entering spring training fully healthy would be an indicator that he can return to being a staple in the team's starting lineups.

That hasn't exactly been the reality facing the Tigers at the start of Grapefruit League play. The 26-year-old has struggled out of the gate, going hitless in his first six plate appearances while striking out twice.

Meadows is carrying a wRC+ of -100 through the first two games of spring training, a mark that truly confirms how early it is to be looking at stats with any degree of sincerity.

It's early, and no, now isn't the time to sound alarms, but that doesn't stop Tigers fans from wondering about the team's offseason approach. Was doubling down on the position players already on the roster truly the best path forward for the Tigers? The answer to that question could certainly define how successful the 2026 season is.

For now, Meadows remains on track to be the Tigers' primary center fielder, but his early struggles could have fans itching for the arrival of Max Clark. Clark is one of the Tigers' top prospects, and it's certainly possible he becomes a much-needed solution for Detroit, but depending on that speaks to why Meadows' spring training start is getting attention for all the wrong reasons.