The Detroit Tigers Opening Day roster heading for their matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers does not include Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez due to injuries.
The Tigers were MLB’s Cinderella story last season, as the struggling franchise finally found its way back to October for the first time since 2014.
Although they came up one game short in the American League Division Series, the sting of playoff heartbreak was a breath of fresh air for a franchise that finished with a winning percentage of .475 or lower each of the past seven seasons prior to 2024.
The organization enters 2025 looking to build upon the success of last season with a roster that didn’t see any departures in free agency and brought in additional talent.
Even with Tarik Skubal in their rotation, the Tigers bullpen was the strength of their pitching staff last season with the ninth-best ERA in baseball. Will Vest is their best option in the bullpen, with Brant Hurter and Tyler Holton quality options as well. The team also signed Tommy Kahnle in free agency.
Skubal, who starts against the Dodgers on Opening Day, was phenomenal for the Tigers last season in what turned out to be a Cy Young season. The rest of the rotation is a mix of veterans and youth that has some upside.
Jack Flaherty was re-signed after being traded to the Dodgers and winning a World Series. The Tigers also have Jackson Jobe, the No. 5 prospect in baseball, joining their rotation for a full season after he made a very brief appearance in 2024.
Rounding out the rotation is Reese Olson who was solid for Detroit last season and former first overall draft pick Casey Mize is looking to get his career back on track.
The Tigers’ youth movement on offense from last carried over into 2025 and is led by Riley Greene who enjoyed a breakout season in 2024. Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith are also going to be counted upon to provide some production on offense. Gleyber Torres was signed in free agency to solidify and provide a veteran presence to the lineup.
Meadows was another Tigers rookie who showed some promise last season, but his 2025 campaign is in serious jeopardy due to right upper arm inflammation. He starts the season on the 60-day injured list.
Additional injuries to Vierling and Pérez have left the Tigers with a huge hole in center field, as this trio started 141 of the 162 games at that position last season.
Free agent Manuel Margot was brought in as a replacement in the meantime.
2025 Tigers Opening Day roster
Pitchers (13): John Brebbia, Beau Brieske, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Jackson Jobe, Tommy Kahnle, Kenta Maeda, Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Tarik Skubal, Will Vest
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers
Infielders (7): Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres
Outfielders (4): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Ryan Kreidler, Manuel Margot
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