Detroit Tigers slash 8 players in 4th round of spring training cuts, including .417 hitter
The number of occupied lockers in the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse at the TigerTown complex continues to shrink with just 12 days until Opening Day.
The Tigers cut eight players before Saturday's game, reassigning all of them to minor league camp: right-handers Jordan Balazovic and Brendan White, left-handers Dietrich Enns and Matt Gage, infielder Andrew Navigato, outfielders Akil Baddoo and Bligh Madris and catcher Brian Serven.
It was the fourth round of roster cuts in spring training.
The Tigers need to cut 13 more players before Opening Day on March 27 at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There are 39 players in MLB spring training, not including the three players on the 60-day injured list. Of those 39 players, three are non-roster invitees: left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin, catcher Tomás Nido and rising infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones, though Nido will start the season in Triple-A Toledo.
None of the roster cuts were surprising, but Navigato had the best spring training among the position players eliminated from Opening Day roster considerations.
Navigato, a 26-year-old right-handed hitter who awaits his MLB debut, hit .417 (10-for-24) with one home run, three walks and four strikeouts in 16 games this spring, posting a 1.148 OPS. He played 30 innings in left field, 21 innings at second base, six innings at third base and four innings at shortstop.
"He hit about how we expected because he's always kind of hit," manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday morning. "The power has been there. He is a pretty good at-bat, and he's a threat, but defensive versatility is something that we're still trying to work into his skillset."
Although Navigato is a below-average defender, he has impressed the Tigers on offense. He isn't on the 40-man roster, but if the Tigers need a right-handed hitting utility player, he could find his way to the MLB level in 2025.
For now, Navigato is slated to join Triple-A Toledo.
In 2024, Navigato hit .271 with 21 home runs, 55 walks and 126 strikeouts across 128 games for the Mud Hens, spending most of his time at shortstop.
"The best chance for him to impact this roster is going to be four or five positions," Hinch said, "and a right-handed bat. He certain can handle left-handed pitching and defend himself against right-handed pitching."
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The other notable roster cut is Baddoo, who has been sidelined since the beginning of spring training with a hand injury that required surgery to repair a broken bone. The 26-year-old has already made significant progress in his rehabilitation program, including playing catch and completing defensive drills.
The next step for Baddoo is beginning a hitting progression in the coming days.
Before spring training, Baddoo wasn't in contention for an Opening Day roster spot, especially since he's no longer on the 40-man roster anymore. However, the injuries to outfielders Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling would've created an opportunity for him.
Instead, Baddoo remains on track to miss the start of the 2025 season. When healthy, he is expected to report to Toledo.
Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel contributed to this report.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Andrew Navigato, Akil Baddoo in spring roster cuts
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