Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Tigers need all the help they can get, and they could change things up by calling up this prospect.
The Detroit Tigers entered the 2021 season without very high expectations due to the fact that they are rebuilding and banking on their prospects developing properly. Even with the team hiring A.J. Hinch as manager, patience has been stressed. However, the team would like to put up some wins and be a competitive squad.
So far this season, things have been going poorly for the Tigers, as they rank near the bottom of the league in both hitting and pitching. While a rebuild is like a marathon and cannot be rushed, the Tigers do not have much to lose by calling up a prospect. Here is one who should get the nod.
1 prospect for Tigers to promote: 3B Isaac Paredes
As of this writing, the Tigers currently rank 28th in batting average (.212) and 30th in OPS (.628). While this is far from an easy fix, Detroit could provide a spark to the batting order by calling up third baseman Isaac Paredes.
The infielder made his MLB debut during the 2020 truncated season, where he slashed .220/.278/.290, while recording one home run, six RBI, seven runs scored and 22 hits. Much like anything in the 60-game shortened season, it can be taken with a grain of salt due to the shortened length. However, his last minor league season should get fans excited.
While playing in Double-A during the 2019 season, Paredes recorded a .282 batting average, an .802 OPS, 13 home runs, 66 RBI, 63 runs scored and 135 hits in 127 games.
While Paredes can play third base, the Tigers should explore putting him at designated hitter as well. Look, anything to get Miguel Cabrera out of the lineup, who is doing anything but produce in the batter’s box. But who would get the demotion to fit Paredes on the roster?