Colt Keith, a Tigers infielder, has not yet made his major league debut at third base, but he might do so at any moment. According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, manager A.J. Hinch stated as much before yesterday’s game.
“We want to know how we can make the most of this roster,” Hinch stated. “We use our entire roster during games, so I’m not sure if it will be a primary or something you’ll see a lot, but there are many instances where having him over there could be very beneficial.” Hinch responded as follows when asked if Keith was prepared to play third: We’re trying to win games, so I’m not sure whether he’s ready, but if the game takes me in that direction, I’m going to put him there. I would do whatever to try to put these individuals in a good position, but in an ideal world, he would receive a few extra practice reps.
Recently, he has begun practicing at third base, and it appears the Tigers are happy enough with his development to consider him a viable option there. Hinch’s framing gives the impression that they are being careful. To observe how it works, they may first offer Keith sporadic glances there; if all goes well, they might make more appearances.
The Tigers have many possibilities on the right side of the infield but are weaker on the left, so if Keith can play third, it would be a terrific fit for the team in many ways. This year, Keith has a strong.244/.332/.390 line and 108 wRC+. Torres’.270/.383/.404 line and 131 wRC+ indicate that he is enjoying an excellent season at the plate. Spencer Torkelson, the first baseman, has a.231/.341/.495 line and 134 wRC+.
The Tigers would likely like to have Kerry Carpenter in the lineup more frequently because he’s not a terrific outfield fielder and has some reoccurring injury concerns, but the designated hitter role enables those three to split a lineup. Due to several outfield injuries and the Keith/Torres/Torkelson combination switching up the DH slot, he has been out of the field a lot this season. But Wenceel Pérez and Parker Meadows have just returned after extended durations in the injured list. The outfield is more congested than it has been this season between Carpenter and Riley Greene.
The infield’s left side, meanwhile, is rather open. Despite being the regular shortstop, Trey Sweeney is only hitting.225/.282/.316 for a wRC+ of 70 this season, and his defense is also lacking. A diverse group of players have combined to generate a.195/.272/.276 line and 60 wRC+ at third base. This season, only the Twins and Brewers have seen the hot corner produce less offensively.
Earlier this year, Jace Jung was offered the opportunity to fill the role, but he was unsuccessful. Recently, the team has been attempting to piece together a solution with utility players Andy Ibáñez, Javier Báez, and Zach McKinstry. Despite playing well overall, McKinstry and Báez struggle to generate much when playing third. The Tigers would undoubtedly appreciate it if someone could firmly establish the stance, even if it is only minor sample noise.
Keith’s ability to play third would improve the team’s output there and assist in other areas. The regulars on the right side may be Torres and Torkelson. Báez or McKinstry might rotate as utility players or even shorten Sweeney’s shift. Carpenter and the other outfield players on the team could be able to take the DH position.
Although the Tigers have the best record in baseball (41–22), no team is flawless, so filling in whatever gaps they can will inevitably assist them in the postseason and over the stretch run. If there is a significant change within the next month or two, it can also change the club’s deadline intentions.
