Detroit Tigers: Can Isaac Paredes lock down the third base role in 2021?
By Tyler Kotila
Detroit Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes will lock down the third base role.
As the Detroit Tigers prepare to go through the 2021 seasons and Spring Training approaches, they will have a new year with more prospects starting the year in the big leagues. After the monumental call-up of Casey Mize, Isaac Paredes, and Tarik Skubal in 2020, the youth are arriving.
Paredes was the organization’s third baseman to close things out during the 2021 season. While a first base/third base hybrid player, Jeimer Candelario, had a phenomenal 2020 season, the third base role should be given to Paredes.
This should be done, with the hopes that he will settle in nicely and be the organization’s everyday third baseman for the 2021 season. He did not emerge as a superstar or anything like that, but Paredes found his way and left plenty of room to surge upwards.
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In 2020, Paredes would play in 34 games and total 100 at-bats where he hit .220/.278/.290 with one longball, five extra-base hits, and six RBI. He walked eight times and was also struck out 24 out of his 100 at-bats.
If he can find a groove in 2021, start driving the ball like he is supposed to, he should be great. Once he settles in and is able to get into this groove, the Tigers should have their everyday third baseman pretty well identified.
The 5-foot-11, 213-pound infielder has played multiple infield positions. However, letting him acclimate and stay at third base should only help his development.
While stats don’t tell the whole story, it does seem that Paredes seems to be comfortable at third from a defensive standpoint.
He made two errors and had a .975 fielding percentage over at third base during his 34 games of the 2020 season. He may not have had a full season, but a tick over half of one season shows there is a feel for the spot.
If Paredes can channel this upside into a big year, 2021 could be special for the young third baseman. He will turn 22 years old in February, and he has the potential to grow into a stud player for this organization; the question is: how long until he’s “the guy” at third base?
Expect 2021 to be a big year; in a more than ideal world, Paredes earns the everyday third baseman role by the time the season is over. It is early to make a prediction like this but enjoying the tools that Paredes shows glimpses of makes it much easier.
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The Detroit Tigers have plenty of prospects on their way to the big leagues, but Isaac Paredes is there and ready to make an impact in 2021.