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Tigers have something to celebrate in Riley Greene, Tarik Skubal
It hasn't been the prettiest season for the Detroit Tigers, and they certainly haven't lived up to expectations.
There was a thought heading into 2024 that the Tigers could perhaps win the American League Central — which was expected to have a down year. Instead, the Cleveland Guardians are the top team in the American League with a 56-32 record and the Tigers are struggling to tread water at 42-48.
Much of Detroit's struggles so far this season have been because several players who were expected to step up simply haven't.
Center fielder Parker Meadows — though now back with the team — was sent back down to Triple-A just a few weeks into the season. First baseman Spencer Torkelson — the former No. 1 overall pick — was sent down after slashing .201/.266/.330 with an OPS of .597 and just four home runs in 209 at-bats.
Javier Baez was lost to injury but he was basically invisible before then, with a slash line of.183/.209/.247 and a .456 OPS. Rookie second baseman Colt Keith started out extremely shakey though he's since found his groove, and to make matters worse, Kerry Carpenter — arguably the team's most explosive hitter with a .914 OPS — was lost to a lower back injury just 145 at-bats in. He's still not back and there's no return in sight.
Those are just some of the reasons the Tigers have been underwhelming in 2024, but there has been some reason to smile in Detroit.
In fact, there's reason to celebrate two All-Star players: Riley Greene and Tarik Skubal.
Both have been named All-Stars for the first time in their respective careers, marking the first time since Miguel Cabrera in 2016 that the Tigers have had a player in the All-Star game that was actually voted in by the AL players and coaches.
That's a milestone the Tigers celebrated before they went on to sweep the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
"It’ll be one of the biggest stages both Tarik and Riley have ever been on,” manager A.J. Hinch said via Chris McKosky of The Detroit News. “Because of the attention, the fanfare, the red carpet and just your peers. I remember standing in front of the group in 2018 when I got to manage the All-Star Game, and it takes you aback. Like, I’m standing in front of a lot of great players with a lot of accomplishments, the biggest and brightest names in the league.
“And now Tarik and Riley are among them. It’s going to hit them probably when they get to that first workout and start looking around.”
As far as the All-Star nod is concerned, it has been well-earned by both players.
Couple of Tigers headed south to #RepDetroit at the All-Star Game! pic.twitter.com/932Au7Gofp
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 7, 2024
Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in the game right now, especially after he fanned a career-high 13 batters in Sunday's win over the Reds. He boasts a 10-3 record with a 2.37 ERA, 132 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.90, which leads all of MLB.
And for his part, Greene has finally developed into the well-rounded superstar the Tigers have always envisioned him to be. In just his third big-league season, he currently has a .261 batting average with an on-base percentage of .356, a slugging percentage of .433 and an OPS of .856, which is Top 20 in all MLB.
"It means a lot. The players voted in the end and it's cool to get that recognition, not only from the fans but from the players that play in this league," Skubal said. "It's pretty special. And for it to be my first one and get to enjoy it with Greeney, his first one, too, I really look forward to it."
It will be something for the Tigers as an organization to look forward to. In a season that hasn't produced many bright spots, Skubal and Greene have certainly earned this spotlight.
More must-reads:
- Tarik Skubal highlights American League All-Stars; Guardians and Royals lead with four players
- Kenley Jansen, Anthony Santander among notable AL All-Star snubs
- The '1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers' quiz
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