Detroit, MI

Justyn-Henry Malloy, Max Clark collide in Detroit Tigers’ 4-2 loss in Grapefruit finale

Published

9 months ago

March 23, 2025

Justyn-Henry Malloy, Max Clark collide in Detroit Tigers’ 4-2 loss in Grapefruit finale

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost, 4-2, to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in their final Grapefruit League game.

Detroit ended with a 12-13 record in Grapefruit League play.

What happened

The big scare happened in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Justyn-Henry Malloy, who was playing left field and is fighting to make this roster, collided with centerfielder Max Clark, the Tigers’ highly touted prospect.

Both players stayed on the grass for some time. After medical personnel and manager A.J. Hinch rushed out to the outfield, Malloy walked off the field and Clark stayed in the game.

As the ball rested in the outfield — and no other fielders around — Bryson Stott went slowly around the bases for a two-run inside-the-park homer.

Malloy was replaced by Jahmai Jones, who is also fighting for one of the last spots on the roster; Jones later homered.

Get away

The Tigers kicked off a wild few days.

Early Sunday morning, they bussed west from Lakeland to Clearwater to play the Phillies, then planned to hop on a plane to fly to San Francisco for a couple of exhibition games.

So, this Sunday get-away before the get-away game featured just enough big leaguers to appease MLB rules — you have to bring a certain number of MLB players to an away spring training game — but plenty of playing time was taken up by prospects.

On the mound

Right-hander Reese Olson made his fourth start of Grapefruit League play (and his fifth outing overall when including a simulated game on March 11).

He threw 5⅓ innings, allowing four hits and two runs. He struck out three with two walks.

What has Hinch seen from Olson this spring?

“I’ve just seen him healthy,” Hinch said. “He’s very consistent. His personality is really easy to deal with every day. He has the kind of the workman’s mentality where he just brings the lunchpail to work, and he’s understated, which is what leads him to be a little under-appreciated.”

Olson is coming off a strange season Last year, Olson had a 3.18 ERA in five starts in April, but the Tigers struggled, and he had a 0-4 record. But he posted a 0.64 ERA in five starts in May

“I think his first half last year was better than it was ever talked about,” Hinch said. “And then the first start afterwards he gets hurt.”

But he pitched in the postseason.

“By the time people caught up that he was pretty damn good, he was inactive,” Hinch said. “He’s a continuous learner. He will tweak a lot of things, but I never have to worry about getting him getting too high or too low.”

At the plate

Infielder Kevin McGonigle, another of the Tigers top prospects, started at shortstop. He doesn’t seem fazed by big leaguers.

He hit a homer to right field off Aaron Nola, who received Cy Young votes in three of the last five years.

Spencer Torkelson, who is also fighting to make this club, went 2-for-3, finishing his spring training with a noteworthy .326 average.

On to San Francisco

The Tigers planned to leave for San Francisco immediately after this game.

And they will bring a group of minor leaguers as a taxi squad.

They will play Monday night, bringing back “pitching chaos.” No, kidding.

“We’re doing a bullpen game, everyone’s favorite, on Monday,” Hinch said, smiling. “Nine relievers, my dream scenario.”

And Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe are expected to pitch in Tuesday’s game.

Part of it is to get to the West Coast and adjust to the time change. But it’s more than that.

“I just think it’s good to do something different on your way to to Opening Day, if you can,” Hinch said. “It gives us a couple days to just everything changes. Everything. Everybody’s in a good mood today that you know is traveling. Everybody, there’s just a little more energy.”

Some players, such as relievers Tyler Owens and Chase Lee, are making the trip just so they can experience travel with the big-league club, knowing they might be needed at some point this season.

“So, their first time with us will not be quite as intimidating,” Hinch said.

Three stars

1. McGonigle; 2. Olson; 3. Torkelson.

Next up: Giants

Monday (9:45 p.m., no TV) vs. San Francisco in an exhibition game at Oracle Park.

TRENDING: Jackson Jobe and Casey Mize have made Tigers starting pitching rotation

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

Published

10 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.

Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.

The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.

Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.

Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.

Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.

Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.

Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.

“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”

Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.

Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.

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Detroit, MI

Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

Published

22 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.

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Detroit, MI

SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.

The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.

The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.

This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.

SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

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