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Detroit Tigers’ Akil Baddoo set to move from minor to major as Rule 5 pick
Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo talks Wednesday, March 31, 2021 about preparing for his upcoming MLB debut.
Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press
Despite freezing temperatures and an early snowstorm, the Detroit The tigers returned to Comerica Park on Thursday for opening day.
The Tigers greeted returning supporters – a sold-out crowd of 8,000 – in style, as southpaw Matthew Boyd pitched in the sixth inning, Miguel Cabrera smashed a two-run homer and Gregory Soto made a shaky save to give the Tigers a 3- 2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Manager AJ Hinch, hired at the end of October, scored his first victory on his debut as manager for the Tigers (1-0), overtaking Shane Bieber, American League winner 2020 Cy Young.
The Tigers return to Comerica Park on Saturday for a 1:10 p.m. game with the Indians. Right-hander Julio Teheran throws for the Tigers against right-hander Zach Plesac.
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Boyd beats Bieber
In the fifth inning, Boyd walked Cesar Hernandez on nine shots to put the runners on first and second with two outs. It was then that Jose Ramirez, an American League MVP favorite this season, stepped into the batter’s box. A visit to the mound helped Boyd set up his plan. Two throws later, Boyd was walking away after Ramirez flew off to right field.
Although Bieber had 12 impressive strikeouts, Boyd made the contact and allowed his defense to work behind him.
Boyd came back for the sixth inning and quickly worked two hitters in the groundouts. But when Josh Naylor made a single, Hinch called on Jose Cisnero to pull out the final. Boyd finished with no runs allowed on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts.
He used 92 shots (57 hits) and had seven swings and misses. His fastball was averaging 90.6 mph. And his opponents simply have an average exit speed of 84.8 mph, a metric used to measure the speed of contact between the bat and the ball.
Last season, Boyd had a 6.71 ERA in 12 starts, allowing 45 earned runs in the MLB lead and 15 home runs, but he faced injuries. He stepped up his strike with a pitching this spring and looks to be on the right track with help from Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter.
Miggy in the snow
For the third time in his career, Cabrera – in his 19th MLB season and set to turn 38 on April 18 – has made a home run on opening day. The last two times were in 2007 and 2008. This year he accomplished the feat in the midst of a snowstorm, a 32 degree temperature and one of the best pitchers in the major leagues. It was Cabrera’s 488th career circuit and his 350th for the Tigers.
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He’s five home runs to tie Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 28th on the all-time list. Cabrera is the second Tiger – along with Al Kaline – to record at least 350 home runs and 2,000 hits in a Detroit uniform.
At the top of the fourth inning, Cabrera made a dive stoppage at first base to take a single from Naylor and prevent a run from scoring. A roll in the hole would have marked Eddie Rosario from second base.
Cabrera lay down with his stomach on the ground and lined up the ball. He threw his knees to shortstop Willi Castro, who covered second base for a force out. The next hitter, Yu Chang, came out to grab Wilson Ramos, helping Boyd escape the traffic jam.
Thursday was Cabrera’s first regular-season first baseman game since June 18, 2019. He was the designated full-time hitter last season.
Hinch had previously committed to playing Cabrera at least once or twice a week. And it’s likely Hinch wasn’t kidding when he said the future Hall of Famer was the team’s best option at first base.
Soto has his chance
Hinch isn’t ready to name a closer one, at least he wasn’t ready until opening day. But when the time came, southpaw Gregory Soto got the baseball in the ninth inning with a three-point lead.
The 26-year-old pushed Naylor to the ground, but Amed Rosario beat third baseman Jeimer Candelario for a field single. Then Roberto Perez smashed a 98 mph lead past the left field wall, reducing the Indians’ deficit to 3-2. After the second out, Soto walked Ben Gamel five lengths.
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Soto brought Hernandez out into shallow right field. Of Soto’s 27 throws, he used seven sliders and got no swing-and-miss, a rarity for his 97.6 mph fastball and hard slider.
Soto will likely be closest to the Tigers – whether Hinch says it or not – unless poor performance or injury causes him to quit the role. Thursday’s outing didn’t help his case.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
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