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| Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers’ Tyler Alexander ‘felt good’ on spring training debut
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tyler Alexander speaks on Sunday, February 28, 2021 about his first Grapefruit League game.
Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press
LAKELAND, Fla – Willi Castro wants to put his mark on the day-to-day work the Detroit Tigers put on him this season. He hopes to stick around, but it’s imperative for him to show that last season was no fluke.
The 23-year-old started the year strong, throwing a 458-foot home run on the first official pitch he has seen since last September. Exploding for six points in the first inning, the Tigers clinched a 10-2 victory Sunday over the Philadelphia Phillies in the Grapefruit League opener at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The match lasted seven innings.
“The first inning, the quality of the bat, I thought it was exceptional,” said manager AJ Hinch. “Really up and down, the whole round, whether it’s a draw, a blow, an RBI opportunity. There’s a lot to be learned from this first round.”
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Left-hander Tyler Alexander, the Tigers starter, gave a second home run to Adam Haseley (86.4 mph cutter) at the top of the first set, but calmed down. He allowed two runs in two innings, with three hits, zero goals and one strikeout.
Alexander used 30 shots (22 shots).
“Maybe hoping to land a starting role,” Alexander said. “The lead guy hits a home run on a cutter that I left a little higher, and I gave up another brace on a 0-2 slider. Other than that, I thought my out speed was pretty good. good. My biggest thing was I wanted to go out and attack early, get ahead of the guys with my fastball. “
The Tigers travel to Tampa on Monday for a 1:05 p.m. game with the New York Yankees. Right-hander Kyle Funkhouser begins. On the other side, the Detroit Bats will face three-time All-Star right-hander Gerrit Cole.
The round ends, the fans boo
After 27 pitches from Nova and 23 more from Jonathan Hennigan – resulting in a combined five walks and six runs allowed – Phillies manager Joe Girardi finished the first inning, even though the Tigers had the bases loaded with two strikeouts.
The crowd booed the Phillies as they walked out of the field.
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Castro’s mistake
Castro’s biggest concern at shortstop is his defense. One aspect of the debate is that it needs more experience to develop. (He only has 66 games in two seasons.) On the other hand, this dilemma explains that Castro is a much better fit at second base, where his arm’s accuracy isn’t tested as much.
In the top of the third, Castro lined up to his left and attempted a backhand turnaround at second baseman Harold Castro covering the base in the middle. But Harold wasn’t ready for Willi’s flip and assumed he would throw at first base. Poor communication resulted in an error.
Seekers start strong
Three of the four catchers vying for the substitute position have played: Grayson Greiner, Dustin Garneau and Eric Haase. Each of them had a hit, Haase hitting a homer in the sixth inning and Greiner adding a step.
Jake Rogers is the other competitive receiver.
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Align
Here’s how the Tigers started the game: Willi Castro (SS), Jeimer Candelario (3B), Christin Stewart (LF), Wilson Ramos (DH), Harold Castro (2B), JaCoby Jones (CF), Akil Baddoo (RF) , Daniel Pinero (1B) and Dustin Garneau (C).
Pinero took the start because the team have no other first baseman to use, as Hinch wants to keep Candelario at third base for the time being. Team No.1 Spencer Torkelson would have played in the first or third goal of this game – if he hadn’t cut his finger off last week.
Miguel Cabrera, another option at first base, did not play. His workload, especially at the start of the spring games, will be closely watched.
Five players from the minicamp portion of spring training were activated for Sunday’s game: right-hander Nolan Blackwood, Drew Carlton, Robbie Ross Jr. and Logan Shore, as well as wide receiver Brady Policelli.
The Tigers used six pitchers: Alexander, Derek Holland, Alex Lange, Ian Krol, Ross Jr. and Carlton. NEW: After Alexander allowed the only two runs, the relievers held down the Phillies to one hit and two walks the rest of the way.
Perspectives play
The first roster change came in the second run, as Haase replaced Ramos as the pinch runner. Two of the team’s prospects – outfielder Riley Greene and second baseman Kody Clemens – came into the final innings.
Greene hit on a 95.8 mph fastball from Enyel De Los Santos in his first at bat of the spring, then relied on the choice of a defenseman in the sixth. Clemens chose pitcher JD Hammer’s glove in his batting only.
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Welcome back, fans
For the first time in 353 days – dating from March 12, 2020 – the Tigers have welcomed fans to watch their team play a baseball game. Tickets went on sale Feb. 18, with a limited capacity of 2,000 fans per game, and sold out in three hours.
“It was really, really nice, a good change,” said Stewart. “It was heartwarming to know that people are there and always come to games. It was a whole different atmosphere.”
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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