Tigers pinch-hitters already in midseason form

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers have a couple days in St. Petersburg and an exhibition against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday before they head north to begin their regular season in Chicago on Thursday. But their final games of Spring Training unfolded with an eye towards the Windy City, and not just for the breeze.

Detroit was getting blanked against the Phillies in Clearwater on Friday before Gio Urshela’s pinch-hit RBI double helped spark a go-ahead four-run rally in the ninth inning. In Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Rays, manager A.J. Hinch flipped the pinch-hit switch earlier, bringing in righties Matt Vierling and Andy Ibáñez as soon as Rays manager Kevin Cash replaced right-handed starter Zack Littell with sidearming lefty Keyshawn Askew with one out in the fourth.

It almost worked. After Vierling popped out, Ibáñez -- pinch-hitting for lefty Riley Greene -- launched a drive over the left-field berm but just foul. He popped out on the next pitch to end the threat.

Results aside, it’s a reminder of how Hinch used the lefty-righty mix of Detroit’s bench for most of last season. Just because the lineup looks a bit deeper and more dangerous this year, and includes some younger hitters getting well-deserved opportunities, that doesn’t change the mentality: Be ready to hit at any time.

For right-handed hitters like Vierling, Urshela and Ibáñez, that doesn’t just mean being ready for rookies Parker Meadows -- whom Vierling hit for on Sunday -- and Colt Keith. Ibáñez, in particular, pinch-hit five times in Grapefruit League play, including three times in which it marked his only appearance of the game. On Friday, he pinch-hit for Meadows, stayed in the game at second base, then moved over to third after Carlos Mendoza replaced Vierling on defense.

On Sunday, Vierling stayed in the game to replace Meadows in center, then moved to the corners as others entered late.

“It’s a strength,” Hinch said Sunday morning. “I think a lot of times, things can get viewed as negative on a player that you move around. The word ‘utility’ is often frowned upon from a player perspective, but the usefulness in being good at these positions is a huge strength for the player and for the team. So we communicate about it constantly, and then I put it in action.”

Flaherty finishes strong
Jack Flaherty had to labor a bit through a few lengthy at-bats and a long second inning, but he struck out eight Rays over 4 2/3 innings Sunday, allowing one earned run on five hits with no walks. He posted 26 strikeouts to four walks over 18 1/3 innings this spring.

“My springs are usually terrible to be honest,” Flaherty said. “So it feels good to come in and have one that went well and see the adjustments that were made in the offseason, see those improvements made.”

Sunday’s strikeout-heavy arsenal included 13 whiffs and 17 called strikes. While the fastball did most of the work, he also drew two swinging strikes and four called strikes on 15 curveballs.

More than anything, Flaherty said he feels good about the way his body is moving and his ability to repeat pitches.

“Last year, I would have some starts with an inning that would be good or a hitter that would be good and not be able to repeat it,” Flaherty said. “I’m able to repeat things over and over and over, a lot better.”

SeaWolves get their rings
In addition to the Tigers’ annual Minor League awards, the team honored the Double-A Erie SeaWolves with a pregame ceremony to honor the Eastern League champions, the first title in the SeaWolves’ history. Team owner Fernando Aguirre joined Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris and vice president of player development Ryan Garko in presenting players, coaches and officials with their championship rings.

Tigers No. 2 prospect Colt Keith and No. 16 prospect Brant Hurter received their rings along with individual honors as Tigers Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year.

“It’s cool to get a ring,” Keith said. “To get a win in the Eastern League, I think it’s a really big deal. I think it shows which direction the Tigers organization is headed.

“I think trying to win in the farm system teaches kids how to win. It’s easy to go through the motions and just kind of be selfish and play for your numbers throughout the year, but when you have something to play for like it is in the big leagues, then you’ll be more prepared when you get to the big leagues.”

Hinch watched the ceremony from the dugout.

“We’re proud of being a winning organization, so when we can feature huge accomplishments like that with all the guys on the field -- some of them are coming with us, some of them are probably going to have to repeat Double-A, and everything in between -- it’s good to get that group together and show the whole organization. It's a statement that accomplishments matter.”