Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Detroit Tigers: Keeping Steven Moya is a Must

By Griffin Fabits

Mar 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Steven Moya (33) works out prior to the game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Steven Moya (33) works out prior to the game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Detroit Tigers are desperate for production and they may have found their answer in slugger Steven Moya.

Steven Moya is putting together a convincing case to stick around with the Detroit Tigers. After a strong performance in Sunday’s 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Moya is giving reason to remain with the club.

Desperately looking to shake up the lineup in an attempt of stringing together a win, Brad Ausmus penciled Steven Moya in to play all four games in the series with the O’s. Moya made Ausmus look like a genius, finishing the four game set batting .400 (6-15), and a HR shy of the cycle in Sunday’s contest.

Moya was brought up on May 12 as the Tigers have been searching for a spark to their oft-inconsistent lineup. The 24-year old slugger was deserving of a call-up after he started the season in Triple-A Toledo with a .310 average through 31 games. Moya clubbed 9 home runs and drove in 24 runs in his 2016 stint with the Mud Hens.

With Moya starting all four games in left field, Justin Upton switched over to center field, J.D. Martinez stayed put in right, and Anthony Gose was the odd man out.

Gose was given the entire series off, with the exception of entering the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning in Sunday’s game.

More from Detroit Tigers

Ausmus made the right move since Gose was in great need of some time off. He came into the series owning a miserable .209 batting average with only 7 RBI on the year.

The Tigers are desperate of an everyday center fielder who produces regularly, and as Cameron Maybin was activated from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, it came to no one’s surprise when Gose was optioned to Toledo shortly after the game.

The Tigers choosing to stick with Moya and sending the struggling Gose down to Toledo is very wise.

With Maybin up and Gose down, the Tigers are now left with 4 primary outfielders. Maybin will most likely fill the center field role, Upton in left, and Martinez in right. Moya will be the fourth outfielder, with experience of playing left and right field.

But if Moya continues to mash, the Tigers will inevitably find a spot for him in the lineup.

Sure, Anthony Gose has been a regular, everyday player with the Tigers for the past few seasons. Although when your team is 2-12 over their last 14 games, they’ll attempt anything, and Gose received the short end of the stick.

Gose has the advantage over Moya as the better defender, but the Tigers aren’t looking for defensive help; they need runs. Lots and lots of runs.

The Steven Moya experiment is still underway, but so far the results are satisfying.

After all, Moya’s launched 109 HR with 396 runs batted in since he made his minor league debut in 2009. He’s been a consistent slugger during his time in the Tigers organization, and now we pray it makes its way to Detroit.

Next: Tigers' Most Forgettable Hitters of Last 10 Years

Sticking with Steven Moya is the right decision, as it’s only a matter of time before he’s off and running as a big league hitter.

Home/Detroit Tigers