As the Major League Baseball (MLB) Playoffs are starting, the Detroit Tigers have made the wild card for the first time in nine years. Baseball fans have been amazed at what manager A.J. Hinch has been able to accomplish with his team. Just a month prior, some MLB analysts predicted that the Tigers had less than a one percent chance of clinching a postseason spot, yet here they are with an opportunity to continue their season. So many are asking the question, how did the tigers get here?
As the season began this year, the Tiger’s offense looked weak with little experience and depth on the team. With players stepping up to accommodate the lack of runs, the pitching staff had to develop quickly. Pitcher Tarik Skubal was one player to stand out on the crew, beginning the season strong and quickly becoming an elite pitcher not only on the team but in the entire league. When the athletes played at their worst, outfielder Riley Greene was there to prove the team still had life, being a star player as well as a great locker room personality, bringing up the team’s morale.
Nearing the middle of August, the Tigers had fallen into a slump and people were questioning the future of the organization. They had not been to the playoffs in nearly a decade and the majority of their star power had vanished. Hinch knew he needed to find a solution to the problem. With the addition of rookie second baseman Jace Jung, and other key components, such as Trey Sweeny the Detroit Tigers started to get hot.
They began to create a better environment and team bond, helping them succeed and put up wins. With more and more success, fans wanted to come out and support the team. Skubal began to make a push for the Cy Young Award, which is awarded to the best pitcher in the American League. Most importantly, the Tigers began to see a postseason future. They kept winning and winning, making their way to a playoff spot with only 3 games remaining in the regular season. This historic comeback will be remembered for years to come, helping to re-solidify the Detroit Tigers as a top contender for the World Series for the first time in nearly a decade.
