In their latest round of Spring Training roster moves ahead of Opening Day, the Tigers announced this morning that they’ve optioned infielder Jace Jung and left-hander Sean Guenther. Neither player will break camp with the club.
Jung, 24, was the club’s first-round pick in the 2022 draft and is a former top-100 prospect. The youngster made his big league debut last year and hit a decent .241/.362/.304 (102 wRC+) in 94 trips to the plate for the Tigers, though that league average production is inflated by good fortune. While Jung walked at an excellent 16% clip during his time in the majors last year, the combination of a massive 30.9% strikeout rate and minimal power (just five extra-base hits, all of which were doubles) left him to rely on an unsustainable .380 BABIP to get his slash line to league average overall.
Even so, Jung entered camp as the likely favorite for an Opening Day job at third base for the Tigers. While the club made a serious push to add Alex Bregman to the mix in free agency this winter, they ultimately came up short and entered camp with only their internal options available to them. That put Jung in strong position to potentially earn the nod, but Jung has struggled badly in Spring Training this year as he’s gone just 4-for-33 at the plate with four walks against ten strikeouts. Spring Training numbers only count for so much, of course, but between his questionable cup of coffee last year and the Tigers’ over reliance on left-handed bats in the lineup the club clearly felt most comfortable sending Jung to Triple-A Toledo to begin the season.
With Jung now out of the mix for the Opening Day roster, third base seems likely to be manned by a platoon of the lefty-swinging utility man Zach McKinstry and righty bat Andy Ibanez. Ibanez was already expected to platoon with Jung entering camp, though McKinstry seemed ticketed for a bench role to start the spring. McKinstry hit just .215/.277/.337 (75 wRC+) in 325 trips to the plate for the Tigers last year but posted a slightly more robust .225/.284/.356 (82 wRC+) line against right-handed pitching last year. Ibanez, meanwhile, crushes left-handed pitching to the tune of a .292/.357/.445 slash line. McKinstry isn’t the only option to share time at third base with Ibanez, though none of Ryan Kreidler, Javier Baez, or non-roster invitee Jahmai Jones are necessarily surefire improvements over the utility man’s expected offensive production.
With Jung off the roster, that opens up a spot in the position player mix for one of the other players vying for a spot in camp. Cutting Jones makes shortstop Trey Sweeney very likely to break camp with the club, and the soon-to-be 25-year-old shortstop figures to platoon with Baez at short to open the year. At least one roster spot appears likely to go to either Spencer Torkelson or Justyn-Henry Malloy to offer the Tigers an additional right-handed bat in the outfield and DH mix while Matt Vierling is on the injured list, and the club’s final available spot on the bench figures to come down to one of Kreidler, Jones, and whichever of Torkelson and Malloy isn’t already on the roster.
As for Guenther, the cut isn’t exactly a surprise. The southpaw excelled in limited work last year with the Tigers, posting a 0.86 ERA and 2.60 FIP in 21 innings, but Tyler Holton and Brant Hurter both entered camp with a leg up on Guenther for an Opening Day roster job and the club signed veteran southpaw Andrew Chafin as a non-roster invitee during camp, which likely extinguished any hope of Guenther making the roster as a third southpaw in the bullpen.
Don’t like that
Why cut one of your better prospects who already did ok in the show for more platoon players that aren’t as good? Let’s the kid get better with experience.
There’s a little bit of chess going on. First, Jung really isn’t ready. He’s close, but needs to take what he’s learned in the bigs and prove it down in AAA. They have to keep Ibanez with the way he hits lefties. And McKinstry is valuable in other positions. So, essentially what they are saying is the platoon is better than Jung and offers more flexibility in terms of hitting and defense.
I get it, but when he’s had a good taste of the majors, his development is best off continuing there. Going back down a level isn’t improving his ability to hit major league pitching. Is it worth it for *maybe* a season of *maybe* better hitting?
There was going to be a platoon with or without Jung since Jung doesn’t hit lefties well at this point.
He’ll be up in May.
McKinstry is out of options so they’ll keep him for depth. Ibanez has one option year remaining and will likely be shuttled back and forth to Toledo. If Jung can hit with any consistency at AAA, he’ll get another shot at claiming the position.
I don’t see Ibanez being shuttled back and forth with his ability to crush lefties. Tigers lack right handed bats.
I think you are right about Jung. If he lights up AAA, he will be back.
Because there are no indicators he is ready to be productive. And, better to let him get into form at AAA before a promotion better supports his development.
Real question: did the Tigers ever consider moving Gleyber Torres to 3rd base?
I think they gave him their word that he will remain at 2B. But, what they have is fine IMO. Not the best, but against lefties, they’ve got a .300 hitter in Ibanez.
Gleyber made it clear prior to signing that he he was only interested in playing 2B. Even though Colt Keith would have had to move to 1B eventually, this is why the move was made this offseason even though Keith is a superior 2B to Torres. I think Torres may have been able to handle 1B, but who knows about 3B.
Torres already stated he’s staying at 2B.
“I’m a second baseman”.. we already have a Red Sox connection.. don’t want to sprinkle it with position drama.
Salzilla
Why cut one of your better prospects who already did ok in the show
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He didn’t really do well. His stats are warped because he faced almost no lefties. On top of that, even his results against righties were bad. His 600 AB projection, based on his 2024 numbers would be 17 HRs with a 226/113 K/W.
He needs to go down on work on his Ks.
I agree
I think Jung and Kreidler will both be serviceable major leaguers. Just not ready right now.
Have any other Tigers fans noticed how well former Tiger farmhand Rule 5 pick Gage Workman is doing with the Cubs this spring? He’s been one of their best players. 3 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB, hitting .424!!
Now that hot prospect 3B Matt Shaw is healthy, the Cubs need for Workman is not as crucial, so perhaps they could work out a deal to bring Workman back to DET? He’d be better in the short run than any of the other options (I do hope Jung is the long-term answer though).
I think he’s a flash in the pan right now. Even after his good spring training, I’d be very surprised to see Chicago keep him. But, that will really depend upon how competitive they are.
Baddoo was also a flash in the pan Rule 5 pick. Not sure why he’s even with the club anymore. He’s not replicated any of that early success.
I’m not falling for hot ST. They never carry over. At least not with unestablished players
They don’t need to work out a deal with Detroit. If they don’t keep him on the roster, he has to be offered back to Detroit. If they do keep him on the roster for the entire year and thereby are granted option/trade rights, I doubt Detroit would be overly interested in trading pieces to get another piece back. The Tigers have the best farm system in baseball. They’re not eager buyers of prospects.
Plus, Gage hasn’t played above AA yet so he wouldn’t exactly be a shoe-in for the 3B job.
Well, he’s been very impressive thus far, I’ll give him that. I just don’t think it’s something that he will sustain in the Majors. At least, not yet.
I just looked up Workman’s 2024 minor league stats and they are pretty impressive. He was ranked as a top Tigers prospect for a short time. The 2024 season 85 runs scored, 18 homers, 80 RBIs, 30 SBs and .280 BA. I wonder why the Tigers left him exposed in the rule 5 draft.
It was a tough decision, I’m sure. I think they had hoped his lack of advancement would turn teams off. But, that’s a problem that the Tigers are going to have every year for the foreseeable future. They are too stocked to protect everybody.
This is going to be a very shaky middle infield. A kid who was ok at 2nd playing a new position, an acquired 2b who can get what’s hit to him but has limited range, and now this. We are going to need Javy in the line up now at short because he is our best defender. What a mess.. hopefully Veirlings back soon.
It’s really not a mess.
Regardless, were a 2nd half team. Should be ironed out by then.
Yeah, this offense is gunna be bad
Makes sense. He can continue to improve in Toledo.
Harris had all offseason to figure this out, put all his eggs into one basket and here we are with 10 days left in ST. Wow, what a major screw up on Harris’ part. Way to go boy wonder!
I think he was prudent about 3B. He made the best offer to Bregman, but didn’t cave when he wanted more money. He’s a little handcufffed waiting for Jung to develop, but what he has at 3B right now is fine. It got them to Game 7 of the ALDS. Not sure I ever heard anyone say we could have reached the World Series if 3B was better.
I would have spoken up earlier, but I thought you knew.
You haven’t heard tell of the general notion that Detroit beats Cleveland in last year’s playoffs with a real left side of the infield?
I have, and saw it for myself as well. Then who knows, hot team against the Yankees.
It’s a shame that the left side still is janky.
I don’t think Bregman would ever come to detroit.
I agree. This offense will be inept
Coming off the wrist surgery, young kid and a tough spring. Probably best for him to go down to get his feet under him and hopefully see some balls leave the yard. He will be back up by the end of June
Another one bites the dust
Now is the time for Detroit to trade with the Marlins for Jonah Bride. Real good right hand bat and can play 3b,1b, and of.
Your not going to try to convert Jung to a pitcher first AJ?
MLB.com has on the Andy Ibanez at +6 Outs Above Average and Trey Sweeney at +3 OAA, in very limited time in the field in 2024 (best 2 OAA on the team in 2024!!). If Ibanez can hit righties at all, I think he’ll be the primary 3rd baseman, and they should be strong on the left side of the infield. Javy Baez conversely was -1 OAA in 2024, and will have to miraculously learn how to hit MLB pitching again to get playing time. With Ibanez as primary and McKinstry as back up, and with Vierling hopefully coming back relatively soon, I think they will be fine at 3rd base. I’m glad they did not wager on a declining Bregman and tie up all of those resources that can now be spent to fill any holes at the deadline. I think Harris and co have them set up to seriously compete in 2024.
I think there’s a strong possibility that Baez returns to a Major League hitter. Maybe his average won’t get above .240, but maybe he hits 25 homers? That’s sweet production from a SS (assuming he improves his whiff rate).
@ Troy
Well, I’m not gonna hold my breath for a miraculous turnaround by Javy Baez, but that sure would be terrific! Another viable option for Hinch, nice problem to have…
I had a strange urge to barf upon hearing the “B” name.
Talk about over hyped press!
I don’t care to ever hear the name again.
PLEASE DO NOT MENTION THAT NAME UNLESS AN ABSOLUTELY NECESSITY.
Notice how the writer worked that name in there….barf
Now I know why a lot, and I mean a lot of people, absolutely hated the Beatles.
Tigers have a wildly incomplete team with no depth. Two major injuries exposed them, now this 3B problem is likely to linger all season.
Depth is their strength. We would have loved to have these players they are cutting a few years ago.
We’re about to see about that. I don’t think they’re as deep as you think. And that catches up over the long run, when performance is reflected over many games.
Yeah, I love the Tigers, but the offense is going to be inept, most likely, imo
Jung improved his 3B defense this spring. But he still needs to hit to stick in the majors. And he looked overwhelmed by better pitching this spring. He is close, but not quite yet ready. I suspect we will see him later this year.
Right now I think these guys are locks to head north (offensively)
C Rogers, Dingler
IF Ibanez, Baez, Torres, Keith, Sweeney
OF Greene, W Perez, Carpenter
That is 10 players right there. They need a RH power bat that can play OF. That would be JHM. 11 players.. Tork is going to make the team. 12 players. That puts McKinstry as the #13 player. And despite being out of options I think when someone comes back, he is the guy that might lose his spot.
Tork is a BUST!
What an awful team. The ChiSox have a better lineup.
@ Jubilation
I like most of your calls in this post, but I disagree that they will dump McKinstry. I think Hinch likes his versatility, and despite the poor numbers, he is a gamer. I think they will go with one of Tork/JHM, whoever is hitting more, and shuffle them back-and-forth to Toledo.
Bustelson should hit the waiver wire soon!
@coop
The only Torkelson outcome that is not a possibility is waiving him. 2025 is his last option year. If he is hitting, he will be in Detroit. If/when he is not, he will be in Toledo. Same is true for JHM (although he has more options).
Jace has been a disappointment so far
Mediocre 2024 AAA
Terrible start in the majors
.100 in ST 2025
Its been a rough year for the jung brothers
But still time to get back on track
I said this in the off season, Jung wasn’t hitting for power, and looked to struggle with off speed stuff. I still stick with that. Also, everyone saying Tork is a bust haven’t watched him this spring. He looks much improved at the plate. It sucks we don’t have an everyday 3rd, but I do think Tork heading north makes more sense than Jung.
I know it sucks but Jace will be better off playing every day in Toledo. Honestly he may end up playing 2B next season anyway, with Torres on a 1 year deal, someone will have to take over for him next season. Besides we all know that Detroit will keep I75 burning up with players making the trip back and forth all season to Toledo, the roster on opening day will drastically change during the season as players slump and get injured. Hopefully he gets untracked and gets recalled, then proves why he was a top 100 prospect.
The big question is who’s going to be DFA’d next week, or are Cobb or Madden going to be put on the 60 day disabled list? Next 2 weeks will be interesting
Baez has started 64 career games at 3B, with Sweeney in house to handle SS it might not be the best solution, but it is a (albeit temporary) solution.
Every Tigers article be it Infield or Outfield related points to McKinstry and Ibanez as subbing in for injured player X, but unless they can handle 3 positions at the same time the Tigers are going to need other players