Will Ryan Kreidler’s defense be enough to justify Tigers’ Opening Day decision?

As injuries ravaged the Detroit Tigers' outfield corps during spring training, it seemed to spell good news for Justyn-Henry Malloy – a corner outfielder who also happened to be one of the Tigers' best hitters this spring. However, Detroit opted to go with a glove over a bat and give Ryan Kreidler the final remaining spot on the Opening Day roster while optioning Malloy to Triple-A Toledo.

The decision was met with mixed reviews, to say the least. Yes, Kreidler is an elite defender; but with Malloy batting .309 in spring training, would it really be wise to replace him in the lineup with a career .147 hitter in 150 Major League at-bats?

As the Tigers see it, yes. Kreidler started in center field Thursday in Detroit's Opening Day matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He silenced the haters and proved the Tigers' belief in him when he made an incredible catch at the warning track to rob Tommy Edman of a hit that almost certainly would have earned him extra bases. That, Tigers fans, is why Kreidler made the Opening Day roster.

Will Ryan Kreidler’s defense on Opening Day be enough to justify Tigers’ decision?

Kreidler reminded us on Thursday that he can flash the glove with the best of them; but fans' patience will continue to wear thin if his bat doesn't catch up.

Kreidler did get a hit in his first at-bat on Thursday – a bloop single – but proceeded to strike out with a pair of runners in scoring position in the fourth inning. By the end of the game, manager AJ Hinch had already substituted Kerry Carpenter to hit for Kreidler in what would end up being a 5-4 Tigers loss.

Admittedly, Kreidler's bat still remains a concern. In addition to hitting just .147 in 150 at-bats over parts of three Major League seasons, he also hit just .200 over 48 games last season in Triple-A Toledo.

Kreidler's performance in spring training this year left room for cautious optimism, as his .217 average was accompanied by 10 walks, two home runs and an .862 OPS. Still, if he has any hope of keeping his Major League roster spot once Detroit's other center field options start getting healthy, he's going to need to start making some major strides at the plate.

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