The Tigers didn’t wait long to change course on Trei Cruz, and the move sent a different name into the spotlight: Ben Malgeri.
Cruz was given just five at-bats before Detroit sent him back down, clearing the way for an unranked outfielder who had been turning heads in Triple-A Toledo. Malgeri’s .296 average and .897 OPS had already made him a popular call among fans, and on paper he looked like the cleaner choice all along. Cruz, though, was apparently higher on the depth chart, likely because of his top prospect status.
That makes the quick turnaround sting a little for Cruz, who barely got a full series and had his family in attendance the whole time without ever seeing him record his first major league hit. But Malgeri didn’t waste time making his own case.
He jumped on the first pitch he saw on June 23 against the Yankees and lined a single. He added another single in that game, then picked up his first RBI on a sacrifice fly the next day.
After that first series, AJ Hinch put it plainly: " He's hit his way here. I mean, look at what he's done over the last few years. He's just continued to open eyes when given opportunities."
The bigger question now is why Detroit took so long to get him to the majors in the first place.
Malgeri’s usage since then suggests the Tigers are easing him in rather than turning the page all at once. He came off the bench in right field during Friday’s 8-0 win over the Astros, with Kerry Carpenter starting there against Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti. Then on Sunday against lefty Josh Hader, Malgeri replaced James Outman in the ninth and stayed in long enough to get two plate appearances in extras, drawing a walk each time.
That looks a lot like a trial run for a possible lefty-killer role, especially with Jahmai Jones still struggling and Wenceel Pérez apparently dealing with a significant injury after a freak training room accident. Malgeri hasn’t had many chances yet, but the early returns are easy enough to read: the walks are a lot more appealing than Jones’ strikeouts.
The Tigers’ bigger picture isn’t exactly encouraging right now, with their hopes of recovering their 2026 season looking bleak. Malgeri is still operating on a short leash, but if Detroit is going nowhere by mid-July, they may as well keep giving the kid a real shot.
In Other News...
Tigers Linked To Deadline Bat That Could Finally Steady This Lineup
As the deadline approaches, the Tigers are doing what contenders tend to do when the lineup starts to feel a little too easy to pitch around: looking for a bat that can change the shape of an inning. San Francisco outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has emerged as the name worth watching, and his season has given him plenty of appeal. He has been one of the steadiest hitters on the market, pairing a high average with strong contact skills and enough extra-base pop to make him more than just a table-setter.
Getting him, though, would not be simple. Buster Posey has signaled that most of the Giants roster could be in play aside from Logan Webb, which only raises the competition and the cost for anyone calling on Lee. Detroit would likely have to put together a serious offer, especially with Lee holding a player option after the 2027 season, the kind of detail that can turn a rental pursuit into something much more attractive for a club trying to stabilize its offense beyond this summer. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Head To The Bronx With One Big Concern Looming
A trip to the Bronx can tighten the shoulders of a pitching staff in a hurry, and the Tigers head into New York carrying exactly that kind of baggage after a rough finish in Houston. Detroit got five shutout innings and nine strikeouts from Jack Flaherty, but a 3-0 lead slipped away and turned into a 7-5 loss in 10 innings, the sort of defeat that lingers when a road swing is just getting started.
Now the focus shifts to a six-game series against the Yankees, with Casey Mize taking the ball for Detroit in the opener against left-hander Ryan Weathers. The matchup offers the Tigers a chance to steady themselves quickly, but it also puts more pressure on a team already looking for a cleaner answer after the bullpen let a win get away. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Move On From Lefty As Bullpen Reality Sets In
The Tigers trimmed a bit of bullpen depth earlier this week when they moved on from left-hander Konnor Pilkington, a minor league signing who had been in the organization since before Spring Training. Pilkington spent his time with Triple-A Toledo, trying to carve out a path back to the majors, but the numbers again pointed to the same issue that has followed him through his pro career: inconsistent strike throwing.
Even in Toledo, where the Tigers were hoping to find a usable lefty option, Pilkington never got the command piece to settle in. He had the kind of performance that forces a club to keep looking for sturdier relief help, and with one minor league option still available, there is at least some roster flexibility in play as Detroit continues sorting through its bullpen picture. [Read more 🡒]