Tigers insider predicts promising rookie will make history with 2025 award

The Detroit Tigers' second-half surge and run to the 2024 ALDS was nothing short of magical. However, their ability to replicate (and, hopefully, improve upon) their success from last season will rely heavily on their young stars taking the next step and reaching their ceilings.

One of those young stars is center fielder Parker Meadows, who took a big step in 2024 despite being hampered by injuries for most of his young career. Meadows has a .241/.317/.413 slash line with 12 homers and 41 RBI across his 119 games and 443 plate appearances. His offensive numbers aren't earth-shattering, but there's reason for optimism that they can improve if and when he's healthy for a full season.

Where Meadows truly shines is on defense. With elite skill in center field, he was worth 5 Defensive Runs Saved and 7 Outs Above Average across 660 innings at the position in 2024. Because of Meadows' defensive prowess, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press thinks the 25-year-old can do something this season that no Tigers center fielder has done since 1989: win a Gold Glove.

Tigers insider predicts Parker Meadows will make history with 2025 award

Meadows made a number of masterful defensive plays in center field down the stretch last season and in the playoffs. He robbed his fair share of home runs, singlehandedly shifting momentum during big games in the Tigers' favor. During the 2024 playoff run, Tigers reliever Will Vest called Meadows "a pitcher's best friend" for his ability to make spectacular plays that bail out his pitching staff.

"Meadows does it all in center for the Tigers, highlighted by running down deep fly balls in the gaps and making spectacular leaping catches at the wall," Petzold wrote. "His teammates – including [Tarik] Skubal – believe he will win a Gold Glove, possibly as soon as 2025."

Needless to say, in order to accomplish the feat, Meadows will have to stay healthy – he missed nearly a month of the 2024 season with a hamstring strain. And if he continues to play at the elite level that he did last year throughout 2025, he will undoubtedly be among the best defensive players at his position.

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