Detroit Tigers: Early thoughts on Parker Meadows future

Parker Meadows deserves big league playing time in 2024 for the Detroit Tigers.

Sep 29, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows (22) hits a
Sep 29, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows (22) hits a / Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows deserves MLB playing time.

The Detroit Tigers promoted Parker Meadows this summer, and he got his first lick of the big leagues, getting his first chances to be a part of the big league club. The 23-year-old outfielder was able to earn his call-up and make the big leagues, getting that debut out of the way.

Looking ahead to 2024, and yes, it's early to be doing that... but the Detroit Tigers may be in a pickle regarding their outfield. Meadows deserves a chance to lock down a role in the Tigers outfield heading into the 2024 season.

Meadows proved himself in his brief big-league stint for the Tigers. He slashed .240/.338/.714 during the 2023 season, where he managed four doubles, two triples, and three home runs with 13 RBI over 125 at-bats.

Sure, it was a smaller sample size, but after cutting and scratching his way through the minors, it was good to see Meadows start to come around and get his job done for the Tigers organization. Even in just 125 at-bats, Meadows showed why he deserves a chance to get big league playing time in 2024.

With a projected outfield that might make that tough, Meadows could be coming into Spring Training with a chip on his shoulder. Meadows may become the opening-day centerfielder if things fall where they may.

The thing that bodes well for Meadows' chances to make the big league roster is the Riley Greene injury. While the injury is not ideal, he is taking a good approach to his return to the field and should be good to go for the 2024 season. If not, Greene will likely be able to DH early on.

That would open up a spot in the outfield and allow Meadows to embark on his big league career after getting a taste of it during the 2023 season. It may be early to look ahead to 2024, but Meadows has come a long way, and it's worth giving him a chance in 2024.

Meadows was a former second-round draft choice who has struggled with the swing-and-miss during his time in the minors. But he's come a long way and been able to take some strides as a prospect and graduated into the big leagues.

Now, he deserves a chance to stick. It's early to start talking roster make-up with a whole off-season ahead, but Meadows deserves a chance in 2024.

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