Tigers: What to watch for during 2020 Spring Training

Since the Kansas City Chiefs just won Super Bowl LIV over the San Francisco 49ers, sports fans should officially turn their attention to baseball season. For Detroit sports fans, it means it is time to watch the Detroit Tigers lose 100 or more games in 2020.

The Detroit Tigers begin their season of baseball next week when the pitchers and catchers report to Lakeland, Florida, for 2020 Spring Training — being that the Tigers are going to struggle to win games and another 100+ loss season is set to be in store.

The team has reportedly invited twenty-five players to Spring Training as non-roster invitees with a chance to make the roster, some of these players included prospects from within the organization.

The team has invited the following players to Spring Training: (Includes non-roster invitees)

• LHP: Tyler Alexander, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Norris, Nick Ramirez, Tarik Skubal, Gregory Soto, and Joey Wentz
• RHP: Tim Adleman, Dario Agrazal, Sandy Baez, Nolan Blackwood, Beau Burrows, Anthony Castro,  Shao-Ching Chiang, José Cisnero, Alex Faedo, Buck Farmer, Michael Fulmer, Kyle Funkhouser, Bryan Garcia, Rony Garcia, Zack Godley, Joe Jimenez, Matt Manning, David McKay, Casey Mize, Gerson Moreno, Iván Nova, Franklin Perez, Wladimir Pinto, John Schrieber, Spencer Turnbull, Alex Wilson, and Jordan Zimmermann
• C: Grayson Greiner, Eric Haase, Cooper Johnson, Brady Policelli, Jake Rogers, Austin Romine, and Kade Scivicque
• INF: Sergio Alcantara, Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, CJ Cron, Brandon Dixon, Niko Goodrum, Dawel Lugo, Isaac Paredes, Daniel Pinero, Jonathan Schoop, and Frank Schwindel
• OF: José Azocar, Jorge Bonifacio, Daz Cameron, Travis Demeritte, Derek Hill, JaCoby Jones, Victor Reyes, Jacob Robson, Christin Stewart, Troy Stokes Jr., and Danny Woodrow

This grouping means a couple of things, specifically for the younger crowd of pitchers. Having the young pitchers like Manning, Mize, Skubal, and Wentz implies that these guys are going to get a taste of spring ball with the “professional” big league club.

Mize was sent to Minor League Spring Training in 2019, but in 2020 he will return to the big league camp to start things off. These youngsters may finally get a chance to see time in the big leagues during the 2020 season, less likely for some arms, but someone like Manning or Beau Burrows may get their first chance.

Do not expect any of the young arms to make the big league club right out of the gate, Manning and Mize will not start the season with the Tigers Mize may start in Double-A depending on how his arm is after being shut down with some arm issues at the end of 2019.

In terms of positional players, the Tigers are going to have two catchers poised to make the big league club in Romine and Greiner, meaning that Jake Rogers will likely start in Triple-A with the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Tigers positionally brought in a few different names who will have the chance to prove themselves or get sent back to Triple-A like Dixon and Bonifacio. Also returning to the organization is Ramirez, who pitched for the Tigers in the big leagues during the 2019 season, and Wilson, who returns to the organization after a brief stint with other teams since departing after the 2018 season.

The Spring Training festivities begin for baseball fans on February 12th, with full-team workouts starting on February 17th in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers will take on Southeastern University on February 21st and then open up Grapefruit League play against the Philadelphia Phillies.