It hasn’t been the prettiest season for the Detroit Tigers, and they certainly haven’t lived up to expectations.
There was a thought heading into 2024 that the Tigers could perhaps win the American League Central — which was expected to have a down year. Instead, the Cleveland Guardians are the top team in the American League with a 56-32 record and the Tigers are struggling to tread water at 42-48.
Much of Detroit’s struggles so far this season have been because several players who were expected to step up simply haven’t.
Center fielder Parker Meadows — though now back with the team — was sent back down to Triple-A just a few weeks into the season. First baseman Spencer Torkelson — the former No. 1 overall pick — was sent down after slashing .201/.266/.330 with an OPS of .597 and just four home runs in 209 at-bats.
Javier Baez was lost to injury but he was basically invisible before then, with a slash line of.183/.209/.247 and a .456 OPS. Rookie second baseman Colt Keith started out extremely shakey though he’s since found his groove, and to make matters worse, Kerry Carpenter — arguably the team’s most explosive hitter with a .914 OPS — was lost to a lower back injury just 145 at-bats in. He’s still not back and there’s no return in sight.
Those are just some of the reasons the Tigers have been underwhelming in 2024, but there has been some reason to smile in Detroit.
In fact, there’s reason to celebrate two All-Star players: Riley Greene and Tarik Skubal.
Both have been named All-Stars for the first time in their respective careers, marking the first time since Miguel Cabrera in 2016 that the Tigers have had a player in the All-Star game that was actually voted in by the AL players and coaches.
That’s a milestone the Tigers celebrated before they went on to sweep the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
“It’ll be one of the biggest stages both Tarik and Riley have ever been on,” manager A.J. Hinch said via Chris McKosky of The Detroit News. “Because of the attention, the fanfare, the red carpet and just your peers. I remember standing in front of the group in 2018 when I got to manage the All-Star Game, and it takes you aback. Like, I’m standing in front of a lot of great players with a lot of accomplishments, the biggest and brightest names in the league.
“And now Tarik and Riley are among them. It’s going to hit them probably when they get to that first workout and start looking around.”
As far as the All-Star nod is concerned, it has been well-earned by both players.