Detroit Tigers: Jeimer Candelario picking up where he left off in 2020
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers are seeing infielder Jeimer Candelario pick up where he left off in 2020, early on in 2021. The Tigers are getting some good offensive production out of Candelario, who is looking to prove he belongs in the lineup for the long run.
Candelario is in his sixth year in the big leagues after being acquired by the Detroit Tigers back in the 2017 season at the trade deadline. He has since been move around the infield, playing both corners during his time in the Motor City.
This season, Candelario has logged 33 games over at third base and zero over at first base. He has 34 games played overall, with one of them being as a designated hitter. Candelario has had his ups and downs, but since the 2020 season, he has turned some things around.
The Tigers should be happy to see Candelario doing well for the second season in a row. While he may not be tearing the cover off the baseball or performing at an MVP caliber, the level he is at is more than serviceable and impressive for the organization.
Detroit Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario picked up where he left off in 2020.
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In 2021, Candelario is slashing .289/.355/.398 with three long balls and 12 total RBI for the Tigers. He has been solid, coming after he was great for the Tigers in 2020. Last season, in the 60-game sprint season, Candelario would log 52 games.
He totaled 206 plate appearances, where he hit .297/.369/.503 with seven big flies and 29 total RBI for the Tigers.
The infielder is versatile and can play either of the corner infield positions, though, in 2021, he has stayed over at third base.
Having this versatility could come in handy as he sticks around the organization. Candelario has started out the 2021 season in a similar fashion to his 2020 performance.
Currently, he has the highest batting average, highest OPS, second-highest on-base percentage, and second-highest RBI total on the Tigers team.
Candelario has not had as many extra-base hits as he did in 2020, but he is still hitting the ball well nonetheless. The Tigers will surely take it. On a team that struggles with run production, the Tigers are going to take any sort of runs they can.
With Candelario continuing from where he was last season, the Tigers have to be hoping that the third baseman will have figured things out and be a solid hitter for this team’s lineup.
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Hopefully, Candelario continues to hit at the level he currently is, and the pace from 2020 stays the same through more of the 2021 season.