Detroit Tigers 2021 season grades for catchers and infielders
By Eli Paszek
The Detroit Tigers backstops made it work.
What was considered to be a below-average position for the Detroit Tigers this season saw some major overhaul throughout the year. From the Opening Day catcher getting the boot in June to the purchase from Cleveland shocking the fanbase and hitting 22 home runs, there were undoubtedly some surprises this year.
Here is how each catcher graded out:
Grayson Greiner: D
It was an up-and-down season for Grayson Greiner, seeing limited playing time due to a combination of injury, underperformance, and breakouts from other players. Overall it is hard to be disappointed by his performance when there were essentially no expectations from the start.
Eric Haase: A-
Eric Haase and Greiner had similar expectations from the start of the season: essentially none. Haase subverted all expectations by destroying baseballs left and right. With 22 homers and a team-leading .459 SLG% for starters, Haase mashed almost immediately. The only thing left to be desired was his 31% strikeout rate and equally dismal 6.8% walk rate.
Wilson Ramos: F
Wilson Ramos came into the season as the de facto starter after signing a 1-year, $2 million deal in the offseason. He started off the season on a torrid pace, hitting six home runs in 10 games. Then it all fell apart. He did not hit another home run in a Tigers uniform, and after seeing his OPS fall to .630, he lost his spot to Haase. Ultimately, for a player to build such expectations and then deliver his type of performance, there is no other way to describe it than failure.
Jake Rogers: B+
Jake Rogers had turned it all around. He had a 2020 season to forget and followed that with a 2021 season that looked like he was playing up to his potential. A .239/.306/.469 slash looked great, albeit in a small sample size. Then the injury. Rogers’ season was good, but his future is uncertain after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Dustin Garneau: B-
Following Rogers ‘ injury, Dustin Garneau’s addition to the roster went without much fanfare, and his stint as a Tiger was brief. However, he managed to perform admirably in his 20 games of work. Fun fact, he hit the same number of home runs as Ramos did as a Tiger in 60 fewer plate appearances.