DETROIT -- Somebody get Tigers outfielder Ben Malgeri an endorsement deal.
Hours after the Tigers announced their home will be named Fifth Third Park next season, their No. 53 had a game in his case to be a part of the Tigers’ long-term plans. Maybe it was just a coincidence that Malgeri homered, doubled and made a diving catch in support of River Ryan’s Tigers debut, lifting Detroit to a 9-2 win over Washington on the same day. Or maybe it was good fortune.
Or even opportunity knocking?
“I didn’t really think of that,” Malgeri said with a laugh. “Now that you put that idea out there, yeah, maybe I should go for that.”
Malgeri, called up from Triple-A in June after a hot start with Toledo playing at Fifth Third Field, continues to make his case for a role on next year’s Tigers roster in what will then be known as Fifth Third Park, a renaming announced Monday as a result of Fifth Third Bank’s recent merger with Comerica. No, Malgeri was not part of the ceremony, but he found the spotlight soon enough.
Starting in right field, Malgeri began his evening by soaring across the right-field gap to snare a 108 mph line drive off the bat of Nationals slugger Abimelec Ortiz to close out Ryan’s first inning. Malgeri’s jump on the ball made the difference between extra bases in the gap and a chance at a grab.
“It’s one of those you’re just running hard after,” Malgeri said. “Last second, I realized I can dive for it and have a chance. It just ended up working out.”
Ryan, who just met many of his new teammates Monday as he prepared for his first Major League outing since 2024, pointed out to his right fielder and smiled before heading back to the dugout.
“Unbelievable play,” said Ryan, who tossed three scoreless innings with three strikeouts while flashing a 98 mph fastball with spin and a 3,000 rpm curveball. “I thought it was going to be in the gap for sure, but he made a really, really nice catch.”
Minutes later, Malgeri doubled off the left-field fence as part of a two-run, three-hit opening inning off Nationals lefty starter DJ Herz.
In the fifth inning, Malgeri saw back-to-back splitters from right-handed reliever Luis Perales. The first cut a bit as he fouled it off. The second hung over the plate, and he pounced, sending a drive to left for a three-run home run that broke the game open.
His fourth home run of the season was his first since a two-homer game on Aug. 14. Spencer Torkelson added a two-run homer, his 25th of the season, two batters later.
Malgeri got the call to the big leagues in June after two hot months with Toledo, including a .323 average and 1.030 OPS at home playing at Fifth Third Field. He did not wear 53 there; it was simply the number he received upon his call to the Majors, where he owns a .781 OPS playing at soon-to-be Fifth Third Park.
“Since I got here, I’ve worn 53, and I’ve just been rocking with it,” Malgeri said. “I don’t mind it. It’s a unique number. Now, it’s even more reason to stick with it.”
In a season when the Tigers have gotten a long look at their prospects down the stretch, Malgeri has been an underdog story, having never been ranked in the Tigers' system after Detroit selected the New Hampshire native in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Northeastern University. But with several left-handed bats in the outfield, the Tigers have an opportunity for Malgeri’s right-handed bat, particularly with Matt Vierling coming back from injury.
“Of all the young guys, he’s probably gotten the least amount of runway,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’re playing him in a role that you can see him moving forward as the right-handed part of an outfield play, moving around, playing both corners. I haven’t played him in center much, but I would. …
“He’s always ready. He is engaged in the game on the days he’s not playing. He’s going to play again tomorrow. Hopefully, [we’ll] get him another one over the weekend. I want that guy to get rewarded. I want him to feel good leaving the ballpark. Your team wins, you get a couple hits, you hit the ball out of the ballpark, get a couple runs batted in. That’s a pretty good day at the ballpark.”
It was a good feeling for Malgeri, even if those "53" signs weren’t for him.