Latest news with #ColtKeith
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tigers Fans Ejected, Boos Rain Down After Pirates' Controversial Go-Ahead Run
Tigers Fans Ejected, Boos Rain Down After Pirates' Controversial Go-Ahead Run originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates battled it out on Thursday during a double header at Comerica Park in the Motor City. Advertisement Detroit surged back and tied the game at four runs apiece on a two-run home run by Colt Keith in the bottom of the seventh inning prior to a rain delay in the ninth inning. The Pirates later took a 5-4 10th inning lead on an RBI single by Ke'Bryan Hayes that scored Tommy Pham as part of a controversial play argued by Tigers manager AJ Hinch at home plate. Boos rained down at Comerica Park as tensions rose during the controversial game changing play between the MLB leaders and their National League opponents. Pirates manager Don Kelly (L) speaks with umpire Chris Guccione on Thursday. © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The play was shown several times by Detroit area networks as fans began to react. Hinch came out to argue the close call after Pham scored, beating a strong throw from right field. Hinch was ejected as tensions continued to flare. Fans had differing opinions on the play. Advertisement "Safe, (Jake) Rogers didn't tag him," one fan said. " shows catcher was too high," another fan added about the attempted tag attempt. "Swiped the arm," another fan said while two other online readers said Pham was out. Tigers fans in attendance became upset as rumors of fan ejections swirled. Reporter Evan Petzold confirmed the situation. The Pirates took an 8-4 lead before shutting the door in the tenth inning. Detroit fell to 48-28 on the season while the Pirates improved to 30-46. Related: Tigers Share Injury News on Starting Pitcher Reese Olson Tuesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kiner-Falefa has 2-run single in 10th as Pirates beat Tigers 8-4 to earn doubleheader split
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Trey Sweeney against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis in the fifth inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo (19) celebrates scoring against the Detroit Tigers in the 10th inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa hits a two-run single against the Detroit Tigers in the 10th inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa hits a two-run single against the Detroit Tigers in the 10th inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws against the Detroit Tigers in the sixth inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Trey Sweeney against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis in the fifth inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo (19) celebrates scoring against the Detroit Tigers in the 10th inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa hits a two-run single against the Detroit Tigers in the 10th inning during the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) DETROIT (AP) — Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run single in a four-run 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 for a split of a doubleheader Thursday. The Tigers won the first game 9-2 behind four RBIs from Riley Greene. Advertisement Pinch-hitter Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the 10th with a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Tommy Pham from second. The Tigers challenged the call, and A.J. Hinch was ejected for arguing after the call was upheld. Nick Gonzales singled, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to Jared Triolo loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Joey Bart had an RBI single to make it 6-4. One out later, Kiner-Falefa hit a single to left to bring home two more runs. A group of fans was ejected during the 10th inning after a verbal confrontation with Pham. Pirates ace Paul Skenes allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, walking five and striking out nine. Advertisement Gonzales led off the second with a solo homer off Tigers opener Tyler Holton and Triolo's two-run homer made it 3-0. Andrew McCutchen pushed the Pirates' lead to 4-0 with a solo homer off Keider Montero in the third. Gleyber Torres had a two-run double for the Tigers in the fifth, and Colt Keith had a two-run homer off Isaac Mattson in the seventh to tie the score. Key moment Pittsburgh appeared to get an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning when Trey Sweeney was called for interference against Gonzales on a grounder by Keith. The umpires originally signaled that Sweeney and Keith were both out, but changed the ruling to Sweeney being out, Keith being placed on first and Jake Rogers being returned to second. Torres followed with his two-run double. Advertisement Key stat The game started 30 minutes late, thanks to a 40-minute rain delay in the first game of the doubleheader. Light rain began to fall in the ninth inning of the second game and got heavier in the bottom of the inning, forcing a 75-minute delay with one out. Up next Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-1, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to start against Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.19) in the opener of a three-game series at home. Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-7, 4.03) will face Rays RHP Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54) in the opener of a three-game series at Tampa, Fla. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith on 1st start at third base in MLB career: 'I know I can do it'
BALTIMORE — Colt Keith is officially a starting third baseman in the big leagues. The 23-year-old took the field at the hot corner for the Detroit Tigers for the first time in his MLB career on Wednesday, June 11, against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards — exactly six days after his first taste of third base with one inning as a defensive replacement. He started taking practice reps at third base less than two weeks ago. Advertisement "I know I can do it," Keith said. HOW IT STARTED: Tigers' Colt Keith is going to play third base. Here's what it means Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith throws to first for an out during the 1st inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium, May 2, 2025. Celebrate Father's Day with our new Tigers book! Playing Keith at third base allows the Tigers to start Spencer Torkelson at first base, Gleyber Torres at second base and Kerry Carpenter at designated hitter. Without Keith at third base, one of the aforementioned four players would be forced to sit, or the injury-prone Carpenter — currently managing a right hamstring issue — would have to play right field. Additionally, putting Keith at third base and Carpenter at designated hitter opens the door for Wenceel Pérez (or Matt Vierling, when he returns from injury) to start in right field. Advertisement Third base is Keith's third position at the MLB level. He already plays second base and first base. "I think it'll help me down the road with the Tigers," Keith said before Wednesday's game, "and it'll help me if it's on a different team. Having multiple positions can help me at any point in my career. Adding more positions obviously will help me get in the lineup." Time will tell if Keith is the Tigers' long-term answer at third base. The Tigers haven't featured a primary third baseman since Jeimer Candelario for most of the games from 2018-22. "I don't know," manager A.J. Hinch said, just two hours before Keith's first start in Wednesday's game. "I think he can do it on the front end. Just because he hasn't done it in the big leagues yet doesn't mean he can't do it. Getting him more comfortable in the speed of the game and the different nuances with playing third on occasion, we're going to try it out." Advertisement [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Keith has experience at third base. The Tigers put Keith at third base after selecting him out of high school in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. At that position, he made 41 starts in 2021, 27 starts in 2022 and 61 starts in 2023 — all at various levels in the minor leagues. Before Wednesday, Keith hadn't started at third base since Aug. 31, 2023, in Triple-A Toledo. It has been 650 days since then. "I think it'll just start with one play, just catching that first one and throwing across the diamond," said Keith, who fielded his first grounder successfully for the final out in the fourth inning Wednesday, helping strand Baltimore runners on the corners. "It's nothing different than second or first. You just got to catch the ball and make the play." Advertisement BAD NEWS: Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe will undergo Tommy John surgery, out for 2025 season One reason why Keith stopped playing third base was because of a right shoulder injury June 9, 2022, in High-A West Michigan. The injury occurred on the bases, when he dove back into first base on a pickoff attempt. He was diagnosed with a labrum injury and missed four months, though he avoided surgery. He also tweaked that same shoulder during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, both while diving for a ball on defense, but he avoided the injured list in those situations. Keith believes his shoulder is healthy enough to play third base after years of maintenance. His arm strength ranks in the 15th percentile among MLB players in 2025. Advertisement "Ever since the injury, I've been doing shoulder programs and things with our trainers," Keith said, "almost after every game since that day. I've been making throws, and it's been getting stronger and stronger over time." The Tigers desperately need improved production from the third-base position, as Tigers third basemen — Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibáñez, Jace Jung, Javier Baez — entered Wednesday's game ranking 29th in MLB with a .580 OPS. Keith has a .712 OPS. He's also hitting .240 with four home runs, 24 walks and 43 strikeouts in 59 games. "Some of it is lineup configurations," Hinch said. "If we want Tork and Gleyber and Colt and Carp and Wenceel and Parker and Riley, when you look at the defensive configuration, it's important for Colt to do this. There's a lot that goes into it — obviously, wanting the best offense combined with a good defense." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith makes first third-base start in MLB career
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith is going to play third base. Here's what it means
CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers continue to search for an answer at third base. For more than a year, the Tigers avoided playing Colt Keith at third base because of a labrum injury in his right shoulder suffered during his time in the minor leagues. The injury didn't require surgery but limited his throwing arm, leading the Tigers to play him at second base in 2024 and first base in 2025. Advertisement Winning changes everything. Celebrate Father's Day with our commemorative Tigers book! The Tigers are now willing to play Keith at third base, as he has received practice reps there recently. The 23-year-old is available to play third base — effective Wednesday, June 4. If all goes well, Keith could settle in as the primary third baseman, which would fill a gaping hole for the Tigers. "We're curious about how we can maximize this roster," manager A.J. Hinch said before Wednesday's game. "I don't know that it will be something that is primary, or I don't know that it's something you're going to see a lot of, but there are a lot of times during games — as we do use our whole roster — where being able to put him over there could be very advantageous." Advertisement ON THE FARM: Tigers prospect Bryce Rainer suffers right shoulder injury in Low-A Lakeland Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) hits a single during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, May 30, 2025. Keith suffered the shoulder injury June 9, 2022, in High-A West Michigan — diving back into first base while on the bases. He missed four months. He also tweaked the same shoulder during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, both while diving for a ball on defense, but he avoided the injured list. He hasn't played third base since Sept. 5, 2023, in Triple-A Toledo. Keith made his MLB debut in 2024. President of baseball operations Scott Harris — who signed Keith to a six-year, $28.6 million contract in January 2024 before Keith had made his MLB debut — moved Keith to second to "save a little bit of the load on his arm," but he also said the Tigers weren't "closing the door on third base at all." Advertisement The door appears wide open in June 2025. "Just giving him different looks on ground balls," Hinch said. "He used to play third base a little bit, so it's not that foreign to him. You may see him there from time to time. We'll see." WEDNESDAY'S NOTEBOOK: Tigers scratch Kerry Carpenter with hamstring tightness: 'Just being cautious' The Tigers have a logjam on the right side of the infield: The success of Spencer Torkelson at first base and Gleyber Torres at second leave the Tigers with no choice but to put Keith at designated hitter. That forces Kerry Carpenter — whom the Tigers would prefer at designated hitter to protect his health — to spend a majority of his time in right field, thus limiting opportunities for Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Advertisement More importantly, the Tigers need improved offensive production at third base. Tigers third basemen rank 29th with a .548 OPS, with Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibáñez, Javier Báez and Jace Jung responsible for those results. (Tigers shortstops also rank 20th in MLB, with a .626 OPS.) Keith could be the solution at third, as he's hitting .244 with four home runs, 22 walks and 42 strikeouts in 55 games, posting a .722 OPS. So far, he has started 18 games at second base, 18 games at designated hitter and 12 games at first base. The bad news: Keith's arm strength ranks in the 15th percentile among MLB players — only slightly better than Torres, whom the Tigers won't even consider at third base. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Advertisement How soon could Keith play third base? "Could see him tonight," Hinch said, just hours before Wednesday's game. Is he ready? "I don't know if he's ready or not," Hinch said, "but if the game leads me that way, I'm going to put him there because of the situations that we're trying to win games. In a perfect world, he gets a few more reps of practice, but I'm willing to do anything to try to put these guys in a good position." The Tigers aren't worried about Keith's shoulder, despite his injury history. His shoulder is expected to hold up at the hot corner. "The injuries have happened on dives," Hinch said. "We can put him anywhere. He's got more than enough arm strength. He's done a ton of work. His maintenance program is incredible. The injuries are unassociated to what position he's playing." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers open door for Colt Keith to play third base in 2025
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Will Colt Keith's debut at third base be the shakeup Detroit Tigers need
Will Colt Keith's debut at third base be the shakeup Detroit Tigers need (Image via Getty) The Detroit Tigers are exploring new infield options. Manager A.J. Hinch has hinted at giving Colt Keith a chance to play third base. Although Keith has never played third in the major leagues, the team believes he could handle it when needed. The coaching staff is thinking of ways to make the most of their lineup during this long MLB season. Colt Keith may debut at third base soon On June 4, 2025, before the Tigers' game, manager A.J. Hinch spoke with Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press and said that Colt Keith might soon see time at third base. Although Keith has never played third at the MLB level, Hinch explained that the team is open to using him there if the situation calls for it. 'We're curious about how we can maximize this roster,' Hinch told Petzold. 'I don't know if it's going to be a regular thing, but there are game situations where putting Colt at third could really help us.' Keith played third base in his first pro season back in 2021, where he logged 347 innings at that spot in the minors. But in June 2022, he injured his right shoulder and missed the rest of that season. The same shoulder caused issues again in 2023 and 2024, so he was moved mostly to second and first base. Since being called up to the majors in 2024, Keith has not played third. Also Read: Why Is Everyone Suddenly Talking About Dillon Dingler As The Reason Behind Detroit's Unexpected MLB Dominance? Tigers eye roster balance and better infield results The Tigers have been shifting players around. In 2025, Keith has spent most time at second and first base. After the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres, Keith moved more often to first. Torres has performed well this season with a .270 batting average and a 131 wRC+. Spencer Torkelson is also having a strong year, and the Tigers want to keep all three players—Keith, Torres, and Torkelson—in the lineup. But rotating through the designated hitter (DH) spot has limited their flexibility. The outfield has also become more crowded now that Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez have returned from injury. Image via Getty The Tigers' current third base group hasn't done well. Their combined stats are among the lowest in the league, and Trey Sweeney, the shortstop, is also struggling. Former first-round pick Jace Jung tried to take the job earlier this year but didn't succeed. So far, Zach McKinstry, Javier Báez, and Andy Ibáñez have rotated through third with little success. Trying Colt Keith at third may help fill that gap. Hinch said, 'In a perfect world, he gets more reps, but I'm willing to do anything to put these guys in a good position to win.'
