Should Tigers seriously consider demoting Colt Keith as his confidence plummets?

The Detroit Tigers made a somewhat surprising move this past spring when they moved Colt Keith from second base to first. After signing Gleyber Torres to a free agent contract, and taking into consideration Keith's -8 defensive runs saved (DRS) at second base last season, the move itself made sense.

But Torres' stint on the IL caused the Tigers to pivot. Keith's returned to the keystone and the results have been less than stellar. The 23-year-old has struggled defensively, and already has three errors on the young season, with many of his miscues coming at inopportune times.

These types of mistakes can damage the psyche of young players like Keith, and Tigers' infielder has admitted as much. According to Mark Ryan of 97.1 The Ticket, Keith relayed earlier this week that his confidence is at an all-time low after the Tigers' 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees. That's tough to hear and could signal that he needs a reset down in the minor leagues. With Torres back from the IL, should the Tigers option Keith to Triple-A despite his burdensome contract?

Should Tigers seriously consider demoting Colt Keith as his confidence plummets?

Offensively, sending Keith to Triple-A Toledo would be a detriment to the Tigers' lineup. While Keith is sitting right at the Mendoza line, his keen eye at the dish allows him to reach base without even swinging the bat. Keith's absurdly high .385 on-base percentage is a product of his team-leading 12 walks on the season.

But the offense has not been lacking for Detroit this season. Riley Greene, Zach McKinstry, and Spencer Torkelson have all been swinging a hot bat, and the Tigers are hopeful that both Trey Sweeney and Kerry Carpenter eventually follow suit.

Torres' return and Torkelson's ability to cover first base gives Detroit the means to send Keith back down to the minors — though they'd sure like to have Matt Vierling in the lineup, who is expected back sometime later this month after being placed on the IL with a rotator cuff strain.

But would sending Keith back to the minor leagues be viewed as an opportunity to restore his confidence, or be seen as a punishment for poor play and further demoralize him? It's a slippery slope, and one that manager AJ Hinch will have to navigate.

A few days off and serving as a bench bat might be a comfortable medium at the moment, but at some point, Keith is going to have to get back on the horse and prove that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level. It's called the big leagues for a reason, and if his lack of confidence is affecting his play — and the team's overall success — a trip back to the minors might be the best plan of action.

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