Rookies key to Detroit Tigers early success

Brennan Boesch (above left) and Austin Jackson (above right) are the core of an elite group of rookies that have helped the Detroit Tigers amass a 24-17 record and a share of the lead in the American League Central. We are a quarter of the way through the 2010 MLB season, and that is an important place in the minds of Detroit area sports fans. Long Time manager Sparky Anderson use to say that one cannot evaluate a MLB team until the 40 game mark. Just past that mark Jackson, Boesch along with Casper Wells, and Danny Worth are a group of rookies that are aiding the Tigers towards a stunning record.

It was important for Jackson to get a good start to the season as he was replacing one of the most loved Tigers players in recent years Curtis Granderson. So far he is hitting .329 with 56 hits, 14 of which were for extra bases. Boesch has stepped in at left field freeing up Johnny Damon to be the team’s full time DH. He is hitting .354 with three home runs and 19 RBI.

Wells and Worth are utility men but are playing well when called on. In fact the only rookie that is not playing well on this team is Scott Sizemore who was brought up this year to fill in at second for the departed Placido Polanco. He has struggled much in his first year in the big leagues and has been sent down to Triple A ball with the Toledo Mud Hens.

While Tigers fans, and I suspect management expected the big name players like Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, and Damon to be the ones who carried this team, so far it seems the play of this group of youngsters is the real catalyst for the Tigers success in the first quarter of the year.

Related Links:

•Detroit Tigers news and notes
•Pride of the Tigers
•The History of Detroit Sports
•MTR Baseball.com