Your ALDS Reference Guide to Detroit Tigers: Who the Hell Are These Guys?

Underdog (uhn-der-dawg): noun

1. A predicted loser in a battle or contest
2. A victim of injustice or persecution

---

CLEVELAND – When Will Vest went home for the birth of his second child in late August, the Detroit Tigers’ playoff chances were 2.9 percent.

While on the paternity list, Vest texted a group of friends from his hometown: “Hey, don’t count us out.”

The Tigers then defeated the White Sox in Chicago. By the time Vest returned on August 29, the Tigers were on a six-game winning streak. The chances increased to… 3.8 percent.

“So every day,” Vest said, “I would send that group text to see what percentage we were in.” And you know, they kind of laughed about it.

As August turned to September and a fun story turned into a serious playoff hunt, the numbers slowly climbed: 9.8 percent on September 10, 26.9 percent on September 20.

“When we got like mid-September,” Vest said, “it started like we went there to find 20, 30, whatever, they were like, ‘Holy crap.'”

In their final series of the season, the Tigers triumphed over the White Sox to seal their unlikely spot in the playoffs. After Vest entered the locker room that evening, one of the first things he did was grab his phone. He sent another text: 100 percent.

“That was a cool text to send,” Vest said.

On Friday in Cleveland, ahead of the American League Division Series, Vest and several of his Tigers teammates wore navy blue T-shirts with their wild graphic of the playoff odds proudly commemorated. In the upper right corner, read a single word: Gritty.

Will Vest models the latest Gritty Tigs clothing 📈 pic.twitter.com/mhG5xEQJeG

— Rachel Hopmayer (@rachelhopmayer) October 4, 2024

For anyone who might be wondering, Vest is a hard-throwing right-handed relief pitcher. Once selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Seattle Mariners in 2021 but returned to the Tigers after a rough first half, Vest has slowly turned into a key piece of a bullpen that finished the season with the fifth-best ERA in baseball.

But like so many of his teammates, he is unknown on the national stage, perhaps still anonymous even to local fans just jumping back on the Tigers bandwagon.

Now that the Tigers are one of the final eight teams competing for a World Series trophy, many may be wondering: who are these guys? And how did they get here?

For those just joining the chase, or for a national audience stunned by seeing the Olde English D in the playoffs, or for anyone who just needs help knowing the difference between Brenan Hanifee and Brant Hurter , here’s your 2024 Detroit Tigers dictionary.

---

Real stars

Riley Greene (RYE-lee green): LF

1. First All-Star in third Major League season.
2. Team leader in most offensive categories.
3. No. 3 or 4 hitter, depending on the matchup and who else is in the lineup.
4. Most Lit Player During Two Champagne Celebrations.

Riley Greene grabbed Tigers owner Chris Ilitch and took him into a champagne bath.

“I’ve always dreamed of doing that,” he said. pic.twitter.com/VCraRgVMqT

—Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 28, 2024

AJ Hinch (ājay hinch): Manager

1. Fourth-year Tigers manager, but this is his first with a winning record.
2. Previously managed the Houston Astros for five years (2015-19), two years as the Arizona Diamondbacks (2009-10) and seven seasons as a Major League catcher (1998-2004).
3. Won the 2017 World Series with the Astros, but was suspended in 2020 for his role in that team’s sign-stealing scandal. He immediately joined Tigers after his suspension ended.

Tarik Skubal (TARE-ick skoo-bul): SP

1. Ninth-round pick from a small town who, at age 27, has become arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball.
2. Triple Crown winner, likely Cy Young Award winner, Game 2 ALDS starter after starting Game 1 in the Wild Card Series.
3. Lefty with a fastball that can touch triple digits, a nasty slider and one of the best changeups in the game.

Household names (well, at least if that household is in Detroit)

Kerry Carpenter (KER-ee KAHR-puhn-ter): RF/DH

1. Former 19th round pick with a great backstory who quietly averaged 30 home runs per 162 games in three big league seasons.
2. Missed two and a half months due to a back injury, but returned in August. His .932 OPS would have been eighth-best in the Majors had he had enough at-bats to qualify.
3. Works with the same offseason hitting coach as Aaron Judge.

Jackson Jobe (Jax-on Jo-be): RHP

1. Ranked as The Athletics No. 10 overall talent and son of professional golfer Brandt Jobe.
2. Called on September 24 and made two appearances in relief.
3. He gave up two runs, one earned, in his lone Wild Card Series appearance.

Colt Keith (Kohlt Keeth): 2B

1. Ranked 36th on Keith Law’s preseason top-100 prospect list. Signed a pre-debut extension in January that guarantees him $28.6 million. Made his big league debut on Opening Day.
2. Lefty hitter with modest reverse splits and a slightly below average 97 wRC+.
3. After a brutal first month, you hit .285 from May 6 through the end of the season.

Reese Olson (raised OLE son): RHP

1. Had a 1.92 ERA through his first 10 starts.
2. Second best starting pitcher behind Tarik Skubal. Missed about six weeks due to a shoulder injury in the second half, now working more as a bulk reliever.
3. A silent killer.

Jake Rogers (jeyk ROJ-ers): C

1. Everyday catcher, best known for his defense.
2. The heartbeat of the team.
3. Known for the mustache.

This guy is straight out of an 80’s baseball movie and I love it pic.twitter.com/IFLMDXxGlN

— Clem (@TheClemReport) October 1, 2024

Matt Vierling (mat VEER-ling): INF/OF

1. Start at four different positions.
2. Bats somewhere between 1 and 4 in the lineup.
3. Often switches positions mid-match to maximize the team’s defense in the late innings.
4. Acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Phillies in January 2023, and marked his best full season at the plate. He is the only Tiger on the postseason roster with previous playoff experience.

Late season calls

Brant Hurter (Brant HURT-er): LHP

1. 6-foot-4 lefty sinkerballer.
2. 2.58 ERA in his first 45 1/3 MLB innings.
3. Best known for his speech after winning the Double-A Eastern League title last season.

Brant Hurter provided one of the best sound bites @tigersMLreport after Erie’s title win. pic.twitter.com/7ifFS4aIL8

— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) August 4, 2024

Jace Jung (JAY-ce young): 3B

1. Younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung; was drafted 12th overall in 2022.
2. Converted from second base to third base in the second half of last season.
3. Holds his bat at a crazy angle.

Ty Madden (Ty MAD-nl): RHP

1. 32nd overall pick in 2021.
2. Had a 6.98 ERA in Triple A this season.
3. Called for more strikeouts and fewer walks.

Parker Meadows (PAHR-ker med-ohs): CF

1. Rookie was demoted in May and injured in July. Returned to the lineup on August 3.
2. One of the game’s best players since returning to the everyday lineup. His 2.1 fWAR ranks 13th in the majors over the past two months.
3. Speed ​​and defense are his strengths, although he has been getting hit well lately.
4. Tall and lanky, they call him a baby giraffe.

Trey Sweeney (trey SWEE-nee): SS

1. Made his Major League debut on August 16 and has been the everyday shortstop since. (Veteran shortstop Javier Báez, the team’s highest-paid player, has been on the IL since mid-August but had a brutal season even when healthy.)
2. One of two prospects acquired in the trade deadline deal that sent No. 2 starter Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Once touted prospects

Spencer Torkelson (SPEN-ser TOWR-kuhl-suhn): 1B

1. No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020.
2. In his third Major League season, but was demoted in June with a .597 OPS.
3. Recalled on August 1 and had a .781 OPS in the final two months of the regular season.

Casey Mize (KAY-see My-them): RHP

1. No. 1 overall pick in 2018.
2. Have Tommy John surgery and a back procedure in 2022. Missed 60 days this season with a hamstring injury.
3. Now coaching out of the bullpen after a 4.36 ERA over parts of four MLB seasons.

Key role players

Beau Brieske (bo briss-KEY): RHP

1. Unheralded late-round draft pick who opened this season in Triple A but has become a versatile and essential part of the mix-and-match pitching staff.
2. Started 12 games and completed 12 games in the regular season. Got the save in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series and threw long relief in Game 2.
3. A main representative of ‘creating chaos’.

See also: Sean Gunther And Brenan Hanifee (neither was highly touted as a prospect, both spent much of this season in the minors and became key relievers down the stretch and in the postseason).

Jason Foley (JAY-son FOLE-ey): RHP

1. Undrafted free agent from Sacred Heart University.
2. The team’s best option in the ninth inning. Used his power sinker to record 28 saves.
3. Comes out of the bullpen on Haddaway’s “What is Love.”

Tyler Holton (TIE-ler HOLT-un): LHP

1. Former Arizona Diamondback claimed waivers before the 2023 season.
2. Versatile reliever who recorded seven wins, eight saves and threw 95 1/3 innings.
3. Has a better ERA (2.15) over the past two seasons than any other MLB pitcher who has thrown more than 150 innings.
4. Also has a remarkable mullet.

The Tigers bullpen is just any type of guy in a certain bar in the Midwest pic.twitter.com/jFLfenP2FK

— Matt Coggins (@MattCoggins) April 22, 2024

Andy Ibanez (an-dee ee-BAHN-yez): INF

1. Right-handed platoon bat with an .802 OPS against lefties. Primarily a second baseman, but can play either corner.
2. He hit just .174 in the second half, but gained so much confidence that he cleared the Wild Card Series opener.
3. Always has a bat in his hand.

See also: Justyn Henry Malloy (mid-season call-up that regularly starts at DH and in the outfield against lefties), Dillon Dingler (backup catcher called up after the team traded Carson Kelly at the deadline).

Wenceel Perez (WIN-cehl PEH-rez): RF

1. Switch hitter who made his big league debut in April and became a fixture in the outfield against righties.
2. Switched from infield during spring training and became a surprise contributor.

See also: Zach McKinstry (left-handed bench bat that can play anywhere).

(Top photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)