Meadows showing off power-speed combo
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LAKELAND, Fla. -- Parker Meadows sensed a chance to beat Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis to the bag on a ground ball to first base and bolted down the line. Never mind that it’s around the midway point of Spring Training.
“At first, he kind of hesitated,” Meadows said. “I think the pitcher thought [the first baseman] was going to take it himself. As soon as I saw that hesitation, I knew I had to book it to get there.”
By the time Meadows hit the bag for a leadoff infield single, he’d reached a sprint speed of 30.0 feet per second, the threshold considered elite according to Statcast. It marked the second time this spring he has reached the mark, the other time coming on a similar ground ball for an out against the Pirates on March 2. This time set up a run on a Mark Canha bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
Four innings later, Meadows gave himself an easier trek around the bases, crushing a Chad Dallas slider 399 feet to right field.
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It was a neatly packaged display of the power-speed combination that Meadows offers to the Tigers' lineup. It was also a display why Detroit believes Meadows’ skill set gives him the chance to be an impact player on offense and defense, even as he learns about himself as a hitter.
“He had some really good at-bats,” manager A.J. Hinch said after the Tigers’ 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays Thursday night at Joker Marchant Stadium. “Obviously the hustle single is really impressive, as is the pull homer.”
The two-hit performance improved Meadows to 6-for-17 this spring with one double, two homers and three RBIs. It’s his second consecutive solid spring, third if counting his 3-for-3 spring as an extra player in 2022. But unlike last year, when Meadows’ 13-for-41, five-homer performance included 14 strikeouts, this spring has featured fewer strikeouts and more zone control for him. He struck out Thursday chasing fastballs at the top of the zone but has generally stayed to his approach.
“For me, just put the ball in play,” Meadows said. “You saw it tonight, just give the team an opportunity, get on base, be aggressive on the bases and maybe catch one in the air. I’m just sticking to my routine, and try to continue to do what I’m doing.”
Part of that is an adjustment to what he saw in his late-season stint in Detroit.
“They were attacking me with the heater and I kind of got off my game plan,” Meadows said of last season. “So for me, just stick to my game plan, hunt the fastball and do damage.”
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Jung hearts be free tonight
Thursday’s split-squad games gave No. 4 prospect Jace Jung a chance to play all nine innings against the Blue Jays. He made the most of it, slugging his first homer in the ninth inning. It was a classic Jung swing, generating violent power from his unique bat angle.
“It was fun to have him play a CG and make his last at-bat count,” Hinch said.
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Jung is likely to be among the first round of roster cuts back to Minor League camp. He’ll still get another chance to take his hacks at Joker Marchant Stadium as part of the Spring Breakout game March 16.
Maeda making it work
While Kenta Maeda’s velocity remains down from his regular-season averages, he continues to build innings. He gave up two runs on four hits in three innings Thursday against the Blue Jays, including a Kevin Kiermaier home run. Yet Maeda's command was much improved from his first outing, including eight called strikes and five swings and misses.
“I think I had better command of my fastball,” Maeda said through interpreter Dai Sekizaki. “I didn’t really have my changeup in my last outing, but today I think I was able to command both of them much better.”
Aside from Kiermaier’s home run, the only ball Maeda allowed in the air to the outfield was his final out. However, he said he was more concerned about how the ball felt out of his hand.
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Short work for Petit
Relief prospect RJ Petit, an extra pitcher brought over from Minor League camp, made his first outing of this Spring Training a good one.
The 6-foot-8, 300-pound right-hander replaced starter Jack Flaherty against the Yankees in a three-run first inning and struck out both batters he faced on sliders. His fastball topped out at 97.5 mph, according to Statcast.