Detroit, MI
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.