Detroit Tigers 2021 season grades for the team’s outfielders

Detroit Tigers season grades for a field general and an offseason acquisition.

Derek Hill, CF: C+ 

Derek Hill was the second player to make an unexpected splash for the Detroit Tigers. A homegrown player (the Tigers drafted him in 2014), Hill played significant time the last three months of the season after a short stint last year. Since taking the full-time job in July, Hill slashed .259/.313/.388, but it was his defense and quickness which stood out.

He led all outfielders with a Range Factor per nine innings (RF/9, which attempts to measure a fielder’s involvement) of 2.72. So, his quickness and defensive ability slightly outweighed his below-average hitting. He was on track to close out the season as the starting centerfielder, but an unfortunate knee injury ended his season prematurely in mid-September.

Nomar Mazara, RF: C+ 

Although he is no longer with the team, Nomar Mazara was an above-average defender for his time. He did not, however, add much at the plate. His OPS of .597 was the third-lowest among Tiger hitters with more than 100 plate appearances. Detroit was his third team in five years, and he is now looking for his fourth. The Tigers designated Mazara for assignment in July.