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Live from Toledo
As the Tigers fell in Chicago 7 to 1 on Saturday afternoon, the offense once again looked flat. Wenceel Peréz's fifth home run of the season to go along six other hits was the only items of substance for Detroit.
So I decided to take my first trip to the Tigers Triple-A affiliate as Toledo had Glayber Torres and Kerry Carpenter on rehab assignments. While that was a part of the journey down I-75 to be hit once again by a wall of traffic (no matter where you go, you can't avoid it), the rest of the trip was check on prospects for Tigers Minor League Report.
Tigers fans are asking to look at all alternatives at this point and rightfully so. They’ve gone hitless with RISP 11 times and haven’t had more than 2 hits w RISP in any game.
Tigers Manager A.J.Hinch said earlier in the week that right now it would be hard to maneuver a call-up but perhaps if you read in between the lines, the Tigers bats in Toledo may not be ready.
And some ways, it makes sense. Both Trei Cruz (on the 40-man roster) and Max Anderson are returning from injuries and would need some more starting reps to even get some consideration. The Tigers want to have players who can make an impact, not to make change for the sake of change.
So the question is with Toledo right now is not just who is playing well, but whether any of it can realistically help Detroit soon.
Eduardo Valencia has started to look more like the hitter who finished 2025 on a tear. He has 22 hits in May, trailing only Ben Malgeri for the team lead, while pacing Toledo with six home runs, 17 runs scored and 41 total bases. The batting average sits at .256 for the month, but the power is back, however, his defense behind the plate isn't big league caliber and he still needs more work at first.
Speaking of Malgeri, he hit his seventh home run of the season and has among the regulars, the better numbers on hitting breaking balls and fastballs over 95mph. Defensively, he is average but can handle all three positions in a pinch.
Max Clark is the long-term headliner, but he has started to settle back in. He had reached base in 16 straight games,(the streak ended tonight) adding extra-base damage, stolen bases and another reminder of how disruptive his speed can be. His 11.44-second home-to-third time on a triple was faster than any Tigers triple since 2024 and one of the fastest in Triple-A this season. He also hit his first home run at Fifth Third Field, a good sign as the offensive impact starts to show beyond just getting on base.
Corey Julks has quietly been one of Toledo’s steadiest bats, reaching base in 21 of his last 23 games with a .293/.404/.488 slash line in that stretch. At home, he has been even better, slugging .613 with seven home runs at Fifth Third Field. Julks gives Toledo a veteran bat who can get on base, draw walks, hit for some power and provide depth if Detroit needs another outfield option.
Then there is Max Anderson, who adds another layer to this conversation if he continues playing a solid third base. The bat has always been the calling card, but the defensive question matters. If Anderson is handling third well enough, it changes the evaluation a bit.
Detroit does not just need hitters, it needs hitters who can actually fit on the roster without forcing more defensive gymnastics. If Anderson can keep making the routine plays, show enough range and continue to provide competitive at-bats, he becomes more interesting as a possible depth piece. Tonight, he made a nice play, despite the runner being safe.
Woo-Suk Go might be the more immediate name to watch, simply because bullpen help is always in demand. Since returning from Erie on May 8, Go has thrown 13 innings over seven appearances, allowing only three runs on five hits with 19 strikeouts and just three walks. His 0.62 WHIP in May is the type of number that grabs attention, especially for a Detroit bullpen that has its share of late-inning blown saves.
However, his velocity sits at 91-93 and he would need throw it harder at the next level to help use his splitter as a strikeout pitch. Tanner Rainey throws 96-97 and has struck out 13 in 11 innings of work in May but he still walks too many. More than likely, Madden or SGL would get a call up first because of their 40-man roster status..
The big picture is this, Toledo may not have one perfect answer sitting there waiting to fix Detroit, but there are pieces worth watching but the Tigers depth right now across the board is getting thinner and thinner by the day. These guys may not solve anything more than the fans lust for a new face to replace a player is struggling.
However, there are players down there making some noise and worth keeping an eye on but for now, Detroit has bigger problems to address as they head into June that Toledo cant solve.
Follow me on "X" @rogcastbaseball
Continue reading...
As the Tigers fell in Chicago 7 to 1 on Saturday afternoon, the offense once again looked flat. Wenceel Peréz's fifth home run of the season to go along six other hits was the only items of substance for Detroit.
So I decided to take my first trip to the Tigers Triple-A affiliate as Toledo had Glayber Torres and Kerry Carpenter on rehab assignments. While that was a part of the journey down I-75 to be hit once again by a wall of traffic (no matter where you go, you can't avoid it), the rest of the trip was check on prospects for Tigers Minor League Report.
Tigers fans are asking to look at all alternatives at this point and rightfully so. They’ve gone hitless with RISP 11 times and haven’t had more than 2 hits w RISP in any game.
Tigers Manager A.J.Hinch said earlier in the week that right now it would be hard to maneuver a call-up but perhaps if you read in between the lines, the Tigers bats in Toledo may not be ready.
And some ways, it makes sense. Both Trei Cruz (on the 40-man roster) and Max Anderson are returning from injuries and would need some more starting reps to even get some consideration. The Tigers want to have players who can make an impact, not to make change for the sake of change.
So the question is with Toledo right now is not just who is playing well, but whether any of it can realistically help Detroit soon.
Toledo's Offense
Eduardo Valencia has started to look more like the hitter who finished 2025 on a tear. He has 22 hits in May, trailing only Ben Malgeri for the team lead, while pacing Toledo with six home runs, 17 runs scored and 41 total bases. The batting average sits at .256 for the month, but the power is back, however, his defense behind the plate isn't big league caliber and he still needs more work at first.
Speaking of Malgeri, he hit his seventh home run of the season and has among the regulars, the better numbers on hitting breaking balls and fastballs over 95mph. Defensively, he is average but can handle all three positions in a pinch.
Max Clark is the long-term headliner, but he has started to settle back in. He had reached base in 16 straight games,(the streak ended tonight) adding extra-base damage, stolen bases and another reminder of how disruptive his speed can be. His 11.44-second home-to-third time on a triple was faster than any Tigers triple since 2024 and one of the fastest in Triple-A this season. He also hit his first home run at Fifth Third Field, a good sign as the offensive impact starts to show beyond just getting on base.
Corey Julks has quietly been one of Toledo’s steadiest bats, reaching base in 21 of his last 23 games with a .293/.404/.488 slash line in that stretch. At home, he has been even better, slugging .613 with seven home runs at Fifth Third Field. Julks gives Toledo a veteran bat who can get on base, draw walks, hit for some power and provide depth if Detroit needs another outfield option.
Then there is Max Anderson, who adds another layer to this conversation if he continues playing a solid third base. The bat has always been the calling card, but the defensive question matters. If Anderson is handling third well enough, it changes the evaluation a bit.
Detroit does not just need hitters, it needs hitters who can actually fit on the roster without forcing more defensive gymnastics. If Anderson can keep making the routine plays, show enough range and continue to provide competitive at-bats, he becomes more interesting as a possible depth piece. Tonight, he made a nice play, despite the runner being safe.
Bullpen Arms
Woo-Suk Go might be the more immediate name to watch, simply because bullpen help is always in demand. Since returning from Erie on May 8, Go has thrown 13 innings over seven appearances, allowing only three runs on five hits with 19 strikeouts and just three walks. His 0.62 WHIP in May is the type of number that grabs attention, especially for a Detroit bullpen that has its share of late-inning blown saves.
However, his velocity sits at 91-93 and he would need throw it harder at the next level to help use his splitter as a strikeout pitch. Tanner Rainey throws 96-97 and has struck out 13 in 11 innings of work in May but he still walks too many. More than likely, Madden or SGL would get a call up first because of their 40-man roster status..
The big picture is this, Toledo may not have one perfect answer sitting there waiting to fix Detroit, but there are pieces worth watching but the Tigers depth right now across the board is getting thinner and thinner by the day. These guys may not solve anything more than the fans lust for a new face to replace a player is struggling.
However, there are players down there making some noise and worth keeping an eye on but for now, Detroit has bigger problems to address as they head into June that Toledo cant solve.
Follow me on "X" @rogcastbaseball
Continue reading...
