The Detroit Tigers have a problem to address by the end of the season and before a postseason run. Detroit needs to solidify its outfield plans, and with the recent performances of its outfielders, one plan comes to the forefront.
That plan, proposed by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, called for the Tigers to resolve their biggest weakness in the center fielder spot by getting 25-year-old slugger Wencel Perez more playing time.
“The switch-hitting Perez is already playing somewhere, usually RF on a pretty much daily basis, and they might as well get him comfortable in center now.” Miller writes. “It’s either that or continue to hope that Vierling of Meadows with their mutual .560-ish OPS will figure things out.”
With the Tigers’ lead in the AL Central dwindling, falling from 14 games to just six, the Tigers need to consider making some changes. Playing Perez, who has a .263 batting average and a .800 OPS this season, makes a lot of sense.
But it’s not just about playing Perez every day, but playing him in center field consistently. They would allow Kerry Carpenter to slide to right field, with Riley Greene in left field, and Colt Kieth at designated hitter against right-handed pitchers.
Against left-handed pitchers is a different story, but Perez should still see time in center field, regardless of who’s on the mound in Miller’s eyes. Perez has a higher OPS than All-Star Gleyber Torres and is 5th on the team for batters with at least 100 at-bats.
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Not only is it imperative that he’s in the lineup every night based on his play this season, but putting him in center field and managing the rest of the lineup is the best path forward to getting the best players more playing time.
While Baez, who was a starter for the AL All-Star team in the outfield, has done enough to earn chances to play in center, Perez should still see more usage in center field down the stretch this season.
The overall offensive production, especially from Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows, in center field has been lackluster. Having Perez take over, with his significantly better offensive production, would help round out the Tigers’ offense from top to bottom.
He’s slated into the Tigers’ center-field spot in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. If he can maintain that role and continue producing at the offensive level that he has, the Tigers might have the solution to what Miller believes is Detroit’s biggest weakness.
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