The Detroit Tigers outfield depth lacks experience, but what lies ahead in Toledo?
With the recent injury news to Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling, the Detroit Tigers have been searching in camp among their minor leaguers who could step up and play in their absence. While Meadows has not been ruled out for the opener in Los Angeles, Vierling has a strained rotator cuff, which could have him out for an extended period of time.
In looking at the options internally, both Erie and Toledo will have some options, including Jahmai Jones, who has seen some time at big league level with the Yankees in the outfield corners as well as second base and third base. Jones is the quintessential manager A.J. Hinch type of player, or what the organization favors, players who can play all over the diamond, a true utility man.
What helps Jones is the fact he is a right-handed bat and this home run against the Pirates on Sunday. He is an average defender at multiple spots, which will work as a valuable plug-and-play piece.
Jahmai Jones, competing for some outfield time, helps his cause with a three-run shot to left, 108MPH off the bat. pic.twitter.com/cn1Yk1uTah
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) March 2, 2025
Hitting wise, he has shown in his career in the minors that he can get on-base and has decent gap power. He hit .304/.390/.490 in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season in 34 games and demonstrated a double-digit walk rate in the minors.
Otherwise, as far as others in camp with major league experience, Wenceel Perez is more than likely heading north with the team, since he can play both center and right field. Perez’s switch hitting ability also, is a huge plus on the 26-man roster.
Bligh Madris, who spent 21 games with the Tigers last season, is primarily a corner outfielder who can also play first. But Detroit has options there, and Madris is a left-handed hitter, which Detroit also has plenty of.
Before we look at the rest of the potential outfielders who could start the season in Toledo, let’s take a look at the free agent market currently that may be a plug-and-play option.
Ryan McKenna
McKenna is another name to consider for a minor-league pact. He has 3 seasons of part-time MLB experience with Baltimore as a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder. While his MLB stats (.221/.299/.318, 75 wRC+ in 523 PA) aren’t eye-popping, he brings defensive versatility and youth. McKenna can and has played all three outfield positions, and that “ability to play all three outfield positions” is noted as an asset on the bench in case of injury.
He also has above-average speed (8 SB with the Orioles in limited duty) and is a solid defender (capable in center). Essentially, he’s a younger alternative for a depth role similar to Akil Baddoo, who will miss the start of the season with a hand injury. In Triple-A, McKenna has been a bit more potent with the bat and might still have some untapped potential. The Tigers could sign him and plug him in as a flexible outfield piece in Toledo; if one of the Tigers’ starting outfielders goes down, McKenna’s well-rounded game could help patch a short-term hole.
While the name may not generate much excitement, the Tigers could wait until the final days of spring training to claim a bat off waivers. One potential option for a fourth outfielder role is former Tigers prospect Dane Myers, a right-handed hitter capable of playing center field. Currently with the Marlins, Myers could become available as Miami deals with injuries to Eury Pérez and Braxton Garrett, which may push them to seek additional starting pitching depth, which the Tigers do have.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Toledo and how the Mud Hens’ outfield situation could shape up.
Toledo Mud Hens 2025 Outfield Snapshot:
Austin Murr (OF/1B)
- Hitting: Contact-first lefty with limited power but decent plate discipline. Works counts but lacks offensive impact.
- Defense: Corner outfielder and first base versatility. Average defender with a serviceable arm.
- 2025 Role: Likely a bench/platoon bat in Toledo, rotating between LF, RF, and 1B.
Ben Malgeri (OF)
- Hitting: Right-handed bat with gap power and solid OBP skills. Strikes out a bit, but has decent power/speed balance.
- Defense: Strong CF defender with good range and versatility to play all three outfield spots.
- 2025 Role: Likely starting CF for Toledo with the potential for late-season MLB depth.
Justice Bigbie (OF)
- Hitting: One of the Tigers’ best pure hitters. High contact rate, gap power with potential for more HRs. He will need to hit for more power in order to get to the next level.
- Defense: Serviceable corner outfielder, could also play 1B/DH to keep his bat in the lineup.
- 2025 Role: Starting RF/LF in Toledo with a chance for MLB promotion if he keeps hitting.
Chris Meyers (1B/OF)
- Hitting: Left-handed slugger with raw power. Has had big HR numbers in the minors but needs better contact skills.
- Defense: Primary 1B but has played some corner OF. Big frame (6’4”) limits mobility.
- 2025 Role: Likely DH/1B power bat in Toledo, with potential to be a depth slugger for Detroit. Still has yet to make an appearance this spring.
Meyers, Malgeri, and Murr would all be new to Triple-A and would likely need time to adjust before being considered for a call-up to Detroit. Given the uncertainty, the Tigers may need to explore the trade market for a fourth outfielder as a short-term solution, as I mentioned earlier.
With weeks remaining in spring training, there is still time for Detroit to assess its options. But for now, this is where things stand in camp.
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