Tigers pitcher Gregory Soto during the 3-2 win over the Indians on Opening Day on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Comerica Park. Entering the 2021 season, his third year in the majors, the 26-year-old is trying to lock down the coveted closer role. I’m betting on the better arm in Soto winning the job, but a true job share with Garcia can’t be ruled out. Gregory Soto – LHP – Tigers. Joe Jimenez. Manager A.J. 3. The Detroit Tigers have Gregory Soto pegged as their closer to start the 2021 season but he was shaky in his first save opportunity. Gregory Soto. “We’ve got our charts, and they give you the best pitchers for each hitter. ... or even closer candidates, but the 26-year-old Soto is certain to be on the short list. Hierarchy remains: *Soto | Farmer | Cisnero. Soto finished third on the team in that category with two, behind Jimenez (five) and Bryan Garcia (four). But the pitch repertoire is merely one aspect that gives Soto closer … Gregory Soto is in a competition to become the Detroit Tigers' closer heading into the season. Finch said Soto "very much has closer stuff," and he looks likely to assume the role to begin the season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. Houston. Impact Soto is the likely favorite to begin the 2021 season as the Tigers' closer, but he isn't present for the start of camp due to travel issues. Detroit Tigers — Up three in the eighth and facing the top of the Astros order, AJ Hinch turned to Gregory Soto, perhaps hoping that the 26-year-old could get a six-out save. 19. How Detroit Tigers flamethrower Gregory Soto is chasing closer role with 'elite stuff' Detroit Free Press. Buck Farmer. Gregory Soto's resume with the Detroit Tigers is that of a closer: A 100 mph fastball, a nasty wipeout slider and, of course, too many inconsistencies. Alex Mar 20 Percentiles: FBv 96 FBs 82 CBs - Barrel 66 EV 6 xSLG 89 xERA 66 Alex Mar 15 Detroit Tigers left-hander Gregory Soto is a special arm out of the bullpen. 49. Gregory Soto only used his slider 20% of the time last year, but hitters were 1 for 18 with 13 strikeouts against the slider. His resume explains everything: A 100 mph fastball, a nasty wipeout slider and — the drawback, like so many Tigers closers before him — too many inconsistencies. via Detroit Free Press. As a member of arguably the worst bullpen in all of baseball, Gregory Soto is the best of the bunch as Detroit’s projected closer in 2021. The matchups dictated his presence more than the manager did. Hinch has yet to name a closer, so Bryan Garcia is sort of penciled in here as he ended the 2020 season with the job. Gregory Soto #65 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park on July 31, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit Tigers left-hander Gregory Soto is a special arm out of the bullpen. Gregory Soto wasn’t coronated as the Tigers’ closer when Ron Gardenhire turned to his hard-throwing lefty for the final inning of Saturday’s doubleheader sweep. 36: Gregory Soto (Detroit Tigers) Although he may not be the team’s closer come opening day, the only reliever I can recommend on the Tigers at this point would be Gregory Soto. mlive.com - DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers don’t have an official closer, but it was no surprise to see who entered the game when the first save situation arose … Is Gregory Soto the Tigers’ closer? 4. But before the final game, he approached Aguilas manager Felix Fermin. A.J. “We’ve got our charts, and they give you the best pitchers for each hitter. * = closer-by-committee. “Our bullpen was gassed,” Soto said in a Zoom call Thursday through Tigers interpreter Carlos Guillen. The matchups dictated his presence more than the manager did. 2. Strong outing by Enoli Paredes on Wednesday striking out … Closer: Gregory Soto Setup men: Bryan Garcia, Jose Cisnero, Buck Farmer Notable injuries: none. Lurking in the background is Joe Jimenez, who had and lost the job last year. Gregory Soto wasn’t coronated as the Tigers’ closer when Ron Gardenhire turned to his hard-throwing lefty for the final inning of Saturday’s doubleheader sweep. 2021 Injury Report. Detroit Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull has taken the next step in his return from COVID-19, as the organization transferred him Thursday from its spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida, to the alternate training site in Toledo, Ohio. Soto should serve as Detroit's primary closer to begin the regular season, but Bryan Garcia and Jose Cisnero could compete for save chances if he struggles. Next Man Up – Gregory Soto/Joe Jimenez. Hinch’s bullpen - Flipboard 2020: 27 games, 23.0 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 29 Strikeouts, 2 Saves. 5 things we learned about A.J. After an abysmal showing in 2019, Soto came back with a 4.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 23 innings in 2020. It was flame-throwing left-hander Gregory Soto. Gregory Soto should be in the mix as well. "The closer is only going to pitch the 25th, 26th and 27th outs," A.J. The Tigers defeated the Reds 7-2. Detroit Tigers – That’s two saves in two days for Gregory Soto, with Buck Farmer getting the 8th in this one. Tigers left-hander Gregory Soto, pitching for Aguilas Cibaenas, already had pitched three scoreless innings in the playoffs. Security grade: D. Wednesday wasn’t a great night for Gregory Soto enthusiasts as they watched the Tigers call upon him to hold a three-run lead in the eighth before Cisnero took the mound for the ninth. Hinch on a closer but Gregory Soto still wants the role: With both Bryan Garcia and Jiménez struggling this week, it will be interesting to see who emerges with the late inning role in Detroit. Detroit manager A.J. Still no word by A.J. No. 1. Closer – Bryan Garcia. April 15, 2021. Entering the 2021 season, his third year in the majors, the 26-year-old is trying to lock down the coveted closer role. Turnbull, 28, is expected to … We should pause here to point out that new Tigers manager A.J. Soto is the likely favorite to begin the 2021 season as the Tigers' closer, but he isn't present for the start of camp due to travel issues. EDGE Analysis. Hinch said the lefty was "really in control of his inning," and Soto looks like the frontrunner for the closer role in Detroit at this point. freep.com. Gregory Soto (P) DET - Mar. Tigers manager A.J. Though Garcia doesn’t have prototypical closer stuff, striking out only 12 batters in 21.2 innings. The left-handed sinkerballer fared well in his first year as a full-time reliever and would be much higher on this list if he were the favorite for saves in Detroit. Gregory Soto might be the most improved player on this list. One more and we’ll remove the asterisk. Hinch said. DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers don’t have an official closer, but it was no surprise to see who entered the game when the first save situation arose on Opening Day. Soto has struggled with the base-on-balls, while Garcia posted a 10/6 K/BB last season. Gregory Soto career pitching statistics for Major League, Minor League, and postseason baseball ... 2021 Closer Depth Chart. “Detroit Tigers considering six-man rotation, not ready to make Gregory Soto the closer https://t.co/hDjZaSiYSr” Soto has yet to arrive at spring training due to travel issues, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. Hinch said on March 26 that he didn't plan to name a closer before Opening Day, and he went with Soto to close the team's Opening Day game and Garcia in the second game on April 3. The championship game was Monday. 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