Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez is lock for Opening Day, likely as No. 1 center fielder
If you're using a pencil to write Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez on the Opening Day roster, it's time to switch to a pen.
He is a lock.
The Tigers will be without two outfielders to start the 2025 season, as Matt Vierling (right shoulder strain) and Parker Meadows (right upper arm nerve issue) have both been ruled out. Their absences leave Pérez as the next-best healthy full-time outfielder after All-Star left fielder Riley Greene, assuming Kerry Carpenter spends most of his games at designated hitter.
"It can be good for me, a good opportunity," said Pérez, who seemed destined for Triple-A Toledo before the injuries, this week. "I've been working in center field, taking a lot of reps. I feel confident there. I told Parker I will take care of center field until he comes back."
A spot on the Opening Day roster opened for Pérez when the Tigers realized Vierling would start the season on the injured list. When the Tigers came to the same realization about Meadows, Pérez then became the primary center fielder.
The Tigers don't want to play Greene in center field.
As of now, Pérez is increasingly likely to start in center field as the leadoff hitter — replacing Meadows — when the regular season gets underway. The 25-year-old missed 11 spring training games with lower back tightness, but made his return as the center fielder and leadoff hitter in Saturday's game after receiving a cortisone injection to address lingering discomfort.
Pérez already talked to Meadows about center field.
"I know I won't do it like you out there, because you're the best out there," Pérez said March 2, recounting his conversation with Meadows. "I'm not like you, but I will do my best to play center field until you come back."
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Pérez played 112 games for the Tigers in the 2024 season after making his MLB debut in early April. He hit .242 with nine home runs, 32 walks and 92 strikeouts, though he hit just .223 in his final 83 games and .184 in his final 30 games.
As a switch-hitter, Pérez batted .251 with a .709 OPS against right-handed pitchers (as a left-handed hitter) and .209 with a .594 OPS against left-handed pitchers (as a right-handed hitter).
"Last year doesn't happen without his contributions," manager A.J. Hinch said Feb. 26, tipping his cap to Pérez for helping the Tigers advance to the postseason. "A lot of that was at a new position at the highest level that he'd never played at. That's pretty impressive."
In last year's spring training, Pérez made the full-time switch from infield to outfield. He came up through the minor leagues as a second baseman, but throwing inaccuracies as an infielder forced the Tigers to move him to the outfield.
He hasn't played infield since then.
In 2024, Pérez impressed throughout his first season as an outfielder. He spent 647 innings in right field, 179⅓ innings in center field and 20 innings in left field. He was worth plus-1 defensive runs saved in right field, minus-4 in center field and plus-1 in left field.
"I'm pretty good at learning stuff quickly," Pérez said.
The next step in Pérez's development as an outfielder is communication. He was responsible for a couple of minor collisions — and a handful of near collisions — while roaming center field and right field last season.
This spring, Pérez has focused on using hand signals on every play.
"That's the only thing I'm working on, just my communication," Pérez said. "It's not with my voice. When you're in the big leagues, it's too loud. We have to communication with our hands. That's what I'm trying to work on."
The center fielder is the captain of the outfield defense.
Not only is Pérez a lock to make the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, but he's also lined up to be the Tigers' primary center fielder with Meadows ruled out for the start of the season.
Eventually, Pérez will settle in as a corner outfielder and could even get infield reps to expand his defensive versatility. But with no timetable for Meadows and Vierling to return from their injuries, he is the top internal candidate to play center field.
"This is my third spring training," Pérez said, referencing his third year in MLB camp. "For me, I'm fighting for a spot. I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself. I'm trying to be me, do the best I can and get ready for the season."
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' Wenceel Pérez is lock for 2025 Opening Day roster
-
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows ruled out for Opening Day with nerve injury
The Detroit Tigers will be without their center fielder and leadoff hitter for Opening Day, as Parker Meadows has been ruled out with a nerve injury.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Why Tigers have young All-Star Riley Greene playing center field in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene played center field for six innings Wednesday and six innings Thursday in spring training, just in case.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Detroit Tigers 2025 roster prediction 4.0: Who replaces Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling?
Here's a look at our fourth version of how the Detroit Tigers should fill their 2025 Opening Day roster — without Parker Meadows or Matt Vierling.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
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.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung finally hit home run, but Opening Day roster spot uncertain
Detroit Tigers third baseman Jace Jung went 229 days without hitting a home run, including the 45 days he spent playing 34 games in his MLB career.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Why Detroit Tigers are trying Spencer Torkelson in right field
The Detroit Tigers are trying to get whatever they can out of their roster after injuries. That includes trying Spencer Torkelson in the outfield.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Detroit Tigers top prospects in Spring Breakout game: What we learned
The Detroit Tigers prospects won 6-3 against the Atlanta Braves prospects in the 2025 Spring Breakout game at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Jack Flaherty gives up rockets to Orioles in 7-1 Tigers loss in spring training
"Crappy day," Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after Orioles scored six on Jack Flaherty, who got the start in Sunday's spring training game.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
MLB's highest paid left fielders for 2025 season: Ranking LF by salary
Who are the highest-paid Major League Baseball left fielders in 2025? Look at the top 10 MLB players at the position in average annual salary.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva leading contenders if Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva will be among the leading candidates to succeed Ange Postecoglou if Tottenham Hotspur feel forced into changing the club’s head coach.Yahoo Sports - 25m
More in Sports
-
WNBA trade grades: Did the defending champion Liberty get even better in trade for Cloud?
Natasha Cloud gives New York another skilled distributor and a stronger defense, while Connecticut gains two first-round picks to help its rebuild.ESPN - 18m -
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 23m