Amid the Detroit Tigers’ incredible 2025 season, where they sit atop the AL Central and are in solid shape to earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs, there have been plenty of impactful players.
With multiple All-Stars in breakout seasons and others thriving in resurgent years, the Tigers have plenty of big contributors to their success in 2025. But one player stands out for their battles of adversity and their journey to an everyday starting role.
That player is Colt Keith, and manager A.J. Hinch expressed, in a recent piece from Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, the high confidence he has in Keith amid his transition to being the team’s full-time third baseman.
Hinch is Confident in Keith at Third
Partway through the 2025 season, Hinch and the Tigers had Keith move from being a first baseman and second baseman to starting at third base. While it wasn’t a completely foreign change, it was one that the 24-year-old had to make mid-season.
But he’s thrived in such a role. In 2025, he started 20 games at third base, and since July 29th, he’s been locked into the starting role there every day. Keith has been solid defensively, and offensively, is hitting .377 with a 1.065 OPS in 17 games.
“By putting him there,” Hinch said, “I’m showing him that I have a ton of confidence in him being able to handle the position.”
Keith wasn’t learning a new position, but he was making a switch mid-season. For Hinch to allow Keith to make such a move shows how much confidence he has in him. Keith has more than paid off said confidence, as he’s been one of the best Tigers lately.
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The emergence of Keith as an everyday starter at third base has drawn a lot of praise from Hinch. “He’s adaptable, and I think that type of calmness around him is remarkable,” Hinch said.
With the Tigers looking to solidify their postseason bye and the AL Central, the emergence of Keith is a huge development. If he can continue to be a force at the plate while taking over at third base, it’d be a huge boon for the Tigers.
Not only will it help in 2025, but his development into a star third baseman would make Hinch’s and the front office’s decision in the offseason a lot easier.
Amid an incredible season for Detroit, the rapid development of Keith at third base is a huge storyline to pay attention to. He’s gained the trust of Hinch and has all but locked up third base for the future in Detroit.
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