X

Have feedback / suggestions? Let us know!

MLB Detroit Tigers

Return of Jose Iglesias Could Give Detroit Tigers Airtight Defensive Infield

By @Brad_Faber

IglesiasSpringTraining

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Way back in Spring Training, the Detroit Tigers lost starting shortstop Jose Iglesias to stress fractures in his shins, which would ultimately keep him out for the entire 2014 season. Detroit was never quite able to fill the void that Iglesias’ absence created.

The Tigers first went with Alex Gonzalez at shortstop, an experiment which would soon prove to be ill-fated. After that, the Tigers gave Andrew Romine, who was acquired in March in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jose Alvarez, the majority of the reps at short, with Danny Worth serving as his de facto platoon partner.

Although they played serviceable defense, the duo of Romine and Worth combined to hit just .197 with a homer and nine RBIs from April through May.

Next up was the young Eugenio Suarez, who made his MLB debut on June 4. Although Suarez started with a bang, hitting three homers in his first month in the big leagues, his bat eventually cooled off and his defense would soon become worrisome. By the end of the year, Romine had essentially reclaimed the shortstop position.

All in all, the Tigers’ carousel of Gonzalez, Romine, Worth, Suarez and Hernan Perez combined to slash just .223/.286/.293 with six home runs and 40 RBIs in 2014, ranking 29th in baseball for batting average among shortstops, and tying for dead-last with a .579 OPS. While Iglesias is not necessarily known for his bat, it seems reasonable to say that he could have outhit the Tigers’ shortstops of 2014.

Defensively, Tigers’ shortstops made 21 errors in 2014. Among all American League teams, only the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros were worse in that department, committing 25 and 26 errors at shortstop respectively. Defense is Iglesias’ calling card, and in 2013, he committed just three errors in the 71 games he spent at shortstop with the Tigers and Boston Red Sox.

As far as the rest of the Tigers’ infield goes, Ian Kinsler was excellent at second base and Miguel Cabrera received positive marks at first base, but rookie Nick Castellanos received a -19.1 UZR/150 the hot corner, the worst mark among all qualified third basemen in baseball.

Obviously, Castellanos does, however, have plenty of time to improve defensively, as he will only be 23 years old at the start of next season. The presence of the legendary Omar Vizquel as the Tigers’ infield coach should continue to help as well.

While the right side of the Tigers’ infield was stronger than the left side in 2014, it could be better balanced and possibly airtight in 2015 if Castellanos plays a better third base and Iglesias returns and flashes the type of leather he did in 2013.

Brad Faber is a Detroit Tigers writer and Sabermetrics columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Brad_Faber, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on