Detroit Tigers breakout pick for the rotation: Spencer Turnbull

Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull is due for a break out.

The Detroit Tigers are preparing to get the 2023 campaign underway. That means their 2023 roster is starting to come into focus, and they are ironing out their roster. With plenty of positional battles on the offensive side of the ball, the rotation has been pretty clear-cut.

With the big guns, Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, on the shelf for the Detroit Tigers, they are relying on other sources to produce for them on the mound. The Tigers are getting Spencer Turnbull back, and he will jump back into the team's rotation after fully recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

It's a nice sigh of relief for him to be back to normal and back on the mound for the Tigers. He will be a huge part of the team's rotation during the 2023 season. The Tigers right-hander is headed for a breakout as he was doing so well before the injury; he just needs to find his stride once again.

The Detroit Tigers have not seen Turnbull on the mound for a regular season game since the 2021 season. He made nine starts before sustaining the injury and ultimately undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Turnbull pitched to a 2.88 ERA, and a 0.98 WHIP with 44 punchouts and just 12 walks over 50.0 innings pitched. This includes his outing against the Seattle Mariners on May 18th, 2021, where Turnbull was able to finish off a no-hitter over a dominant outing, punching out nine Mariners en route to making history.

Things this Spring may not have been perfect for the 30-year-old right-hander statistically, but he's got time to settle in nicely. Turnbull has the makings to be a great pitcher and could easily be a huge breakout pitcher for the team in 2023.

Turnbull was settling in nicely after overcoming some mental struggles on the mound, finding his footing in the Tigers rotation. After battling some adversity to make his comeback, there's got to be confidence in him to settle back in and be one of the Tigers' better arms.

He may start the year in the middle of the rotation, but he's someone who could quickly become the team's best arm by the midsummer classic. Turnbull's shown what it takes to be a good pitcher at the big-league level; he just needs to find his footing as the regular season comes into focus.

If I had to give a projected breakout award to a pitcher on this staff, it's Turnbull. Heck, both of the Spencers are players I'd expect a breakout from. It feels like Turnbull can go out and get it done, and Spencer Torkelson looks primed for a big rebound as well in the batters' box.

There may not be a ton of excitement around the 2023 Tigers roster, but watching Turnbull get back on the mound in the regular season is something to be happy about.