Tigers willing to play Colt Keith at third base

Tigers infielder Colt Keith has not played third base in the majors but could make his debut there at any time. Prior to yesterday’s game, manager A.J. Hinch said so, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.

“We’re curious about how we can maximize this roster,” Hinch said. “I don’t know that it will be something that is primary, or I don’t know that it’s something you’re going to see a lot of, but there are a lot of times during games – as we do use our whole roster – where being able to put him over there could be very advantageous.” When asked if Keith is ready to play third, Hinch said: “I don’t know if he’s ready or not, but if the game leads me that way, I’m going to put him there because of the situations that we’re trying to win games. In a perfect world, he gets a few more reps of practice, but I’m willing to do anything to try to put these guys in a good position.”

Playing third base used to be quite normal for Keith. In 2021, his first professional season, that was his primary position. He logged 347 2/3 innings at the hot corner and 132 at second base. However, he suffered an injury to his right shoulder in June of 2022. He spent the second half of that year on the injured list. Issues with that shoulder flared up in 2023 and 2024, which led to him spending more time on the right side of the infield. He hasn’t played third since late in 2023 in the minors.

He was called up to the majors in 2024 and, as mentioned, hasn’t played third in the big leagues yet. He played second base last year, though the offseason signing of Gleyber Torres has pushed him largely to first base this year. Keith has technically spent more time at second than at first so far in 2025, though a lot of that time at the keystone was when Torres was on the injured list.

He has been doing some drills at third base lately and it seems the Tigers are satisfied enough with his progress that he’s a legitimate option there. Based on Hinch’s framing, it sounds like they are taking a cautious approach. Perhaps they will give Keith occasional looks there at first to see how it goes, with the possibility for more appearances if things go well.

If Keith is able to handle third, it would be a good fit for the club in a lot of ways, as the Tigers have a lot of options for the right side of the infield but are weaker on the left. Keith himself has a solid .244/.332/.390 line and 108 wRC+ this year. Torres is having a great season at the plate, with a .270/.383/.404 line and 131 wRC+. First baseman Spencer Torkelson has a .231/.341/.495 line and 134 wRC+.

The designated hitter spot allows those three to share a lineup but the Tigers would probably like to have Kerry Carpenter in there more often since he’s not a great defender in the outfield and has some recurring injury issues. He has spent a lot of time on the grass this year due to the Keith/Torres/Torkelson trio rotating through the DH spot, as well as a number of outfield injuries. However, Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez have both recently returned from lengthy IL stints. Between those two, Carpenter and Riley Greene, the outfield is more crowded than it has been all season.

Meanwhile, the left side of the infield is fairly wide open. Trey Sweeney has been the regular shortstop but he is hitting just .225/.282/.316 for a wRC+ of 70 this year, with subpar defense to boot. At third base, a hodgepodge of players have produced a collective .195/.272/.276 line and 60 wRC+. Only the Twins and Brewers have received less offensive production from the hot corner this year.

Jace Jung was given a chance to take the position earlier this year but he did not succeed. Of late, the club has been trying to cobble together a solution from utility players Zach McKinstry, Javier Báez and Andy Ibáñez. McKinstry and Báez are playing well on the whole but can’t seem to produce much when playing third. That may just be small sample noise, but regardless, the Tigers would surely love it if someone could solidify the position.

If Keith can handle third, it would upgrade the club’s production at that spot while also helping elsewhere. Torres and Torkelson could be the regular’s on the right side. McKinstry or Báez could bounce around as utility guys or perhaps cut into Sweeney’s time at short. The DH spot could open up for Carpenter and the club’s other outfielders.

The Tigers have the best record in baseball at 41-22 but no club is perfect and patching up any hole they can find will naturally help for the stretch run and in the postseason. It could also alter the club’s deadline plans if there’s a notable shift in the next month or so.

Photo courtesy of Jason Parkhurst, Imagn Images