The Tigers have plenty to sort through this winter, but Jace Jung sits near the center of the conversation.
Detroit needs bullpen help, and Scott Harris has already acknowledged another issue that has to be addressed: middle infield depth. With Gleyber Torres unlikely to return, the Tigers are expected to lean on younger options, and Hao-Yu Lee looks like the leading candidate at second base for 2027. Max Anderson and Colt Keith are also in the mix there, while third base could feature Kevin McGonigle, Zach McKinstry and Keith getting looks.
That leaves Jung in a tough spot. The former first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft has not given Detroit the kind of big-league production it was hoping for. He debuted in 2024, still hasn’t hit his first major league home run, and owns a -1.0 WAR over three seasons as his playing time has continued to shrink.
The Tigers have tried to help him along. During spring training in 2025, Jung got work at first base in an effort to broaden his defensive options. Even so, the main issue has remained his bat at the MLB level, along with the fact that he still doesn’t have one clear position to call his own.
Jung is under contract through 2032, which makes him a possible trade piece. But Detroit also has to be careful not to move on too quickly. The warning sign is obvious: if the Tigers give up too early, they could end up watching another former prospect take off somewhere else, much like Kody Clemens has with the Minnesota Twins this season.
In Triple-A over the last two years, Jung did show some progress. His home run total climbed from 17 in 2025 to 22 in 2026, and he drew 86 walks last season, the most of his career to that point.
He also posted a .818 OPS. The downside was the batting average, which dipped to .222 in 2026.
For Jung, this winter feels decisive. If Harris wants more depth in the middle infield, Jung needs to be ready when the phone rings. Harris has made it clear he’d rather build from within than chase help on the open market unless he has no choice, and Jung’s play since 2024 has put pressure on that approach.
Detroit believes the bat is in there. The problem is simple: Jung has to finally unlock it in the majors.
At 26, the clock is ticking. If he’s still in the organization by spring, this is shaping up as a make-or-break stretch.
And if the Tigers decide to deal him, it likely won’t be in a straight-up swap. More likely, he’d be part of a larger package as Detroit looks to add pitching depth.
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