The Detroit Tigers acquired corner infielder Jeimer Candelario back in 2017 alongside Isaac Paredes in exchange for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson, who were dealt to the Chicago Cubs. Four years later, Candelario is starting to look a bit more like the player the Tigers were hoping for.
The Detroit Tigers are now seeing Jeimer Candelario settle in and perform well in the box once again in 2021. Candelario needs to keep this up, and this version that has been present the past two seasons needs to stick around.
Candelario was a player the Tigers gambled on, putting him into the lineup and hoping he would figure it out. It was not the cleanest road since his debut with the Cubs in 2016, but Candelario is performing much better now, while some may want to see some more power, the slash looks better than it has.
After an exceptional season in 2020, Candelario was looking to produce more of the same in 2021; so far, he has been able to do that. As the season continues, he should be looking to continue this and try to prove that he can sustain this type of production and possibly get better as the team does.
Detroit Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario needs to continue his performance in 2021.
More from Detroit Tigers
- Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
- Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
- 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings
- Javier Baez Listed Among Worst Contracts in MLB by The Athletic
- Tigers’ Interest in Kenta Maeda Could be a Disaster for 2024 and Beyond
So far in 2021, Candelario has logged 75 games played, where he has slashed .270/.354/.379 with four home runs and 23 RBI.
With 23 total extra-base hits, Candelario has shown that he is figuring things out in the box and has started to figure some things out.
This comes after a shortened season where Candelario logged 52 games played and posted a .297/.369/.503 slash line with seven home runs and 29 RBI for the Tigers. A far cry from the two prior seasons where his numbers were not as good.
Combined, Candelario slashed .216/.312/.372 over the 2018 and 2019 seasons put together. There was room for improvement, and so far, he has shown this in 2021. It has been good to see Candelario start figuring things out in 2020 and then carrying that into 2021.
This season, Candelario has been worked at third base only. In prior seasons he was moved between the corners from first base and third base, but not in 2021. He’s logged 72 games at third base and then been given a few resting days as the designated hitter as well.
The settling in at the one position rather than bouncing might have been beneficial for Candelario to help him lock in on hitting and focus on his success in the batters’ box. Hopefully, Candelario can continue this success into the second half of the 2021 season as well.