Carpenter returns from injury, notches hit in spring debut

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Kerry Carpenter drove two hours here from the Tigers’ Spring Training home in Lakeland to get his first game at-bats of Spring Training … against Spencer Strider and Charlie Morton.

That’s how badly Carpenter wanted to play after being sidelined by a left hamstring strain early in camp. As he walked off the field for a pinch-runner, having singled off Morton in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the Braves, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

“It was a good welcome to it,” Carpenter said.

His manager also had to be happy. With Carpenter back, A.J. Hinch can plan out his lineup over the next few weeks before the Tigers open their regular season on March 28 against the White Sox, knowing the middle of the order is ready.

Though Carpenter was rewarded with a hit off Morton, his first at-bat against Strider was arguably more impressive. He tracked Strider’s power fastball well, fouled off some pitches and worked a full count before connecting with a 98 mph heater and sending a fly ball to the warning track in left-center.

“I kind of clipped it,” Carpenter said. “I didn't really get all of it, but enough where I knew I had a chance, especially with the wind helping that way. It was a good at-bat.”

Carpenter credited the live batting practice at-bats he got last week -- up to 10 a day, around 30-40 total by Carpenter’s estimation -- against Tigers pitchers with helping prepare him for Strider, notably top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe.

“Jobe was very similar,” Carpenter said.

Those at-bats also made a difference with Hinch.

“He didn’t really miss anything but game time,” Hinch said. “He got a ton of work in. He’s either at or ahead of where any of our players are in camp offensively.”

Carpenter saw more offspeed from Strider in his next at-bat, grounding into a double play. He had a similar challenge from Morton, who froze him on a breaking ball before Carpenter recovered to hit a fastball for a single.

The Tigers are off entirely on Wednesday, so Carpenter won’t get any at-bats. He’ll start at DH again on Thursday in the Tigers’ split-squad game against the Yankees in Tampa. He’ll get some game work in the outfield after that.

Olson meets challenge
Reese Olson’s third start of the spring featured more of his full arsenal over three scoreless innings. But with a runner in scoring position and two outs in the second and third innings, he went with what he trusted.

The third inning was a particular test, with a runner on third and Ozzie Albies at the plate. Albies worked a 2-0 count and was ready to swing. Olson didn’t want to give in.

“Just wanted to get back in the strike zone,” Olson said. “That kinda happened [in] the second inning as well, runner on base, getting quick. I know what my mechanical cue is that I need to not have that, so it’s just kind of locking in and making sure I’m not rushing with runners on base.”

Olson threw back-to-back 94 mph fastballs. Albies fouled off one and whiffed on another before Olson fanned him on a slider.

“Having a runner in scoring position with two outs is huge,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to lock in right there and get him out.”

Another strong outing from Flores
Wilmer Flores, the No. 10 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s latest Tigers rankings, had his fastball humming again in his third outing of the spring, reaching 99 mph on the stadium radar gun while sitting at 96-97 on his fastball. Just as important, he was able to mix in his other stuff.

Flores fanned Travis d’Arnaud on a 99 mph heater to end the fourth inning, and Eli White on 98 mph to begin the fifth. After a David Fletcher single put a runner on, Flores threw three consecutive fastballs to set up a breaking ball to fan Luis Liberato.

“Any young power pitcher who can locate secondary pitches will benefit from it,” Hinch said. “Wilmer has a really good fastball, really good extension, ball cuts, really good command of it. The breaking ball has to come with it.”

Flores finished with two scoreless innings on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts. He has seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings through three appearances.