Detroit Tigers: Grading The 2019 Players For Their Performances
By Tyler Kotila
Besides the infielders, there were three staple outfielders and three players who kind of floated playing all over the field, infield, outfield, and everything in between. This also neglects Nicholas Castellanos since he was traded away at the 2019 trade deadline.
JaCoby Jones: B
In 2019, Jones showed fans improvement in the box, which was important to see out of Jones entering his fourth year in the MLB. Jones managed a .235/.430/.310 slash line with eleven home runs and twenty-six RBI for the Tigers. He showed improvement in the batters’ box, which is what the Tigers should look for, being a more reliable hitter for the Detroit Tigers lineup.
Victor Reyes: A
After being a Rule-5 Draft choice by the Tigers, Reyes hit .304/.431/.336 with five triples and swiping nine bags in 2019. Reyes showed that he would be able to play at the big league level over the sixty-nine games he appeared in this season. Look for him to show continued growth in the 2020 season.
Remember when all the Tigers fans were saying “Christin Stewart ROTY” after the first weekend? Injuries put a hinderance on his season, but he finished .233/.388/.305 with ten home runs and forty RBI for the Tigers. But defensively, both Stewart and Nicholas Castellanos held a competition for worst defensive skills in the American League, but Stewart seemingly improved towards the end of the season.
Niko Goodrum: B+
Goodrum has spent two seasons in the big leagues with the Tigers and has shown he can be a valuable utility star for the Tigers. Posting a .248/.421/.322 slash line with twelve home runs and forty-five RBI in 2019. Simple enough, he proved he can be a useful asset to this rebuilding and struggling Tigers team.
Dixon was a real asset all over the field for the Tigers this year, continually grinding for the chance to play. He produced a .248/.435/.290 with fifteen home runs and fifty-two RBI for the Tigers in 2019 and should be brought back to fill gaps on this team for the 2020 season. Dixon proved that he provides benefit on the roster with his flexibility in the field as well as “grinder” attitude as a player.
Harold Castro: C+
Another player who was not incredible, nothing that proved he could be an everyday player, but he did show improvements and consistently in the box. Castro hit .291/.384/.305 for the Tigers in 2019, in his first majority of a season with the Tigers. There’s still room for growth or improvement, but Castro showed he could hang in the big leagues.