Welcome to Day 2 of our Detroit Tigers positional breakdown, where we offer a quick summary of how players performed across the system in various positions. Yesterday, we examined the catchers; today, we’re focusing on first basemen within the organization and how they fared in 2023.
Toledo
In the wake of Spencer Torkelson’s breakout 2023 season in which he became the first drafted Detroit Tigers player to hit 30 home runs at first base since Tony Clark in 1999, Scott Harris discussed how Justice Bigbie could fit into future plans. Previously a first baseman, Bigbie transitioned to the outfield this season. A similar move occurred for Chris Meyers, who saw action in left field this year. In essence, if a player demonstrates hitting prowess, opportunities may arise in different positions.
In Toledo, it was a mix of veterans like Andrew Knapp, Tyler Nevin, and Michael Papierski who saw the most time at first. Andre Lipcius, who was called up towards the end of the season, played just 33 games at first as he is more of a utility player who can play wherever Detroit needed him to.
Erie
So let’s turn our focus to Erie. Last season, Quincy Nieporte started most of the time but was lost to start the season due to Tommy John surgery. Time was split this season between Jake Holton and Chris Meyers. The right-handed hitting Holton spent the entire season in Erie, batting .245/.78/.401 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs. He came up big in the postseason while batting as a DH, hitting .333/.412/.933 (5-for-15) including two home runs in the championship clinching win over Binghamton. On the season, he showed a good eye at the plate, walking around a 14.7% clip and a WRC+ 121.
It’s getting LOUD in Erie.
Jake Holton’s second home run of the night and third of the Eastern League Finals has blown it open! pic.twitter.com/ymIvMPJRzn
— Detroit Tigers Player Development (@RoadtoDetroit) September 27, 2023
What proved beneficial for the SeaWolves was the call-up of Meyers, which created a platoon situation, given that Meyers bats from the left-handed side of the plate. After hitting .333/.429/.638 in 40 games at West Michigan with 9 home runs, he hit 9 home runs at Erie, batting .248/.305/.391 in 70 games.
For both Holton and Meyers, the .ISO numbers, both under .200, indicate they would need to hit for more power consistently before seeing time in Detroit but were bright spots as they were key in Erie’s title run.
West Michigan, Lakeland, FCL and DSL
Andrew Jenkins divided his time between Lakeland and West Michigan, but he didn’t fit the mold of a prototypical power hitter. He posted a batting line of .314/.383/.384 with a wRC+ of 115 and managed just two home runs over the course of the season. Although part of his profile suggests above-average power, he hit a significant number of line drives in Lakeland (33.8%) and then produced ground balls at a rate of 51.8% with the Whitecaps. To elevate his profile in 2024, he’ll need to increase his flyball rate, which stood at just 20.8% in High-A.
At Lakeland and the complex level, due to lack of our eyes and video down there, we can just give you some names to look out for in 2024. We could also see next season more players getting some looks at first.
-Clayton Campbell*
-Enrique Jimenez *
-Josue Briceno (could see more time at first in 2024)
-Geury Estevez
*also saw time at catcher.
Tuesday: Second baseman/shortstop
Wednesday: Third baseman
Thursday: Centerfield
Friday: Left field
Saturday: Right field
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Emily Waldon 
Chris Brown