The Detroit Tigers finished the 2023 season in a season that had high expectations. After leading 5-1 at the beginning of the game, the Tigers’ good start faded. They had a 9-4 shift in July; at the half, they were three games behind.500 with a record of 47-50, 12 games behind the American League Central and 7 games behind the wild card. Who, then, merits a prize for their first half at halftime?
MVP: OF – Riley Greene
In his third major league season, Greene has appeared in 96 games, hitting.271 with an OPS of.867; he has collected 51 RBI, 56 runs scored, four stolen bases, 21 doubles, five triples, and 17 home runs. In addition to leading the Tigers in triples, Greene leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, doubles, home runs, RBI, runs scored, and walks. In terms of OPS, he is tied for sixth in baseball, is 23rd in terms of runs scored, and leads the league in walks (8).
Cy Young: LHP – Tarik Skubal
Skubal was a Cy Young favorite coming into the season, and he has shown why in the first half. With a 2.41 ERA, 2.57 FIP, 0.88 WHIP, and 140 strikeouts in 116 innings, he has a 10-3 record in 19 starts. In terms of ERA, WHIP, innings pitched, and strikeouts, he leads the Tigers. He ranks 14th in MLB, fifth in baseball’s ERA, sixth in FIP, third in WHIP, and sixth in strikeouts.
Rookie: INF – Colt Keith
Although Keith had a slow start, he has recently improved. This season, in 86 games, he has a.703 OPS, ten doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 37 RBI, 36 runs scored, five stolen bases, and 22 walks. His batting average is.253. Among players that are eligible to play for the Tigers, he is tied for fourth in runs scored, third in walks, third in home runs, third in RBI, and second in batting average. He is tied for fifth in home runs, fourth in RBI, ninth in runs scored, tenth in walks, and 12th in batting average among all qualifying rookies. He is also tenth in OPS and 16th in doubles.
Prospect: OF – Max Clark – Lakeland Flying Tigers
The top-ranked player in the Tigers system, Clark, has hit.279 with an OPS of.785 in 71 games this season in Single-A. He has also accumulated ten doubles, three triples, six home runs, 57 RBI, 52 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, and 47 walks. He was tied for 13th in triples, tied for 21st in home runs, first in RBI, first in runs scored, fourth in walks, and second in stolen bases in the Florida State League. His batting average was fifth. His on-base percentage was eighth.