Detroit Tigers: Kerry Carpenter earned a role with the team in 2023

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter had a huge year in 2023.

The Detroit Tigers 2023 season has come to an end. There are plenty of takeaways and things to note from this year, one of them being the outlook of the roster moving forward. One of those things will be positional battles and who slots in where.

The team's outfield is going to undergo some changes this outfield. But if there's one thing that the Detroit Tigers learned in 2023, it's that they need to find ways to earmark at-bats for Kerry Carpenter. The left-handed hitting outfielder has shown that he can do damage in the lineup from the left side and be an asset for the Tigers.

It was a big season for him this year, settling in and showing that he belongs in the big leagues and deserved a chance to strut his stuff. He could very well be someone the team relies on to provide some pop with a left-handed stroke that has produced some homers in his time in Detroit.

Carpenter had a big year in 2023, playing the lion's share of games, outside of some time away from the field, rehabbing from a shoulder injury. He played in 118 games where he slashed .278/.340/.471 with 17 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, and 64 RBI to his credit. Carpenter managed 32 walks and 115 strikeouts over 418 at-bats.

There may be some moves this off-season that may change the landscape of the team's outfield situation. But, looking ahead to 2024, Carpenter deserves a chance to prove himself by taking some at-bats as part of the Tigers lineup.

Carpenter is a bat that will produce some pop, especially when he can get to fastballs up in the zone, something he excels at. He's got an uphill path through contact, making it even more conducive to launching the ball.

The point is the power numbers showed, and when he gets pitches in the upper quadrant, he's going to be able to do some damage. It's something the Tigers can use to their advantage moving forward, and Carpenter proved he can slot into that role

Carpenter, the former 19th-round draft pick out of FIU, really has come a long way, and in his time with the Tigers, there's been a good showing of his ability to hit for power. If the Tigers learned anything from Carpenter's 2023 performance, it is that he's going to bring some power to the Tigers lineup.