CINCINNATI — Parker Meadows is returning to the big leagues.
The Detroit Tigers are recalling Meadows, an elite center field defender, from Triple-A Toledo ahead of Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, according to multiple sources who were not at liberty to discuss roster moves publicly.
It will be Meadows’ first game with the Tigers since May 6.
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The Tigers had previously optioned Meadows, who maintains his rookie status, on May 7 to Triple-A Toledo — exactly 59 days ago — because he struggled offensively. He was named to the Opening Day roster out of spring training, only to hit .096 with two homers, a .443 OPS and a 37.7% strikeout rate in 32 games while being worth plus-4 defensive runs saved in center field.
Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, April 22, 2024.”>
In Toledo, Meadows received playing time every day.
The 24-year-old hit .298 with eight homers, a .905 OPS and a 19% strikeout rate in 47 games while recording 19 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He didn’t get on base enough with the Tigers to steal bases like he did with the Mud Hens (limiting him to three steals in four attempts in the majors), but he has elite speed.
On Thursday, Meadows went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base for Triple-A Toledo. The Mud Hens beat the Columbus Clippers, the Cleveland Guardians‘ Triple-A affiliate, about 110 miles from Cincinnati, where Meadows will join the Tigers for Friday’s game against the Reds.
Meadows has shown his ability to get on base with Toledo, reaching safety in 11 of his last 12 games, including a four-game hitting streak. He hit .324 with 17 walks and 21 strikeouts in his last 25 games, dating back to June 5.
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Meadows struggled to hit fastballs in his first 32 games with the Tigers, posting a .077 batting average, a .076 expected batting average and a 27.7% strikeout rate on fastballs. He couldn’t hit fastballs because his swing didn’t get to them in time.
That’s why the Tigers demoted Meadows to Toledo.
His fastball performance was significantly better with the Mud Hens: a .396 batting average, a .281 expected batting average and a 14.7% strikeout rate. He also hit .308 on fastballs that reached at least 95 mph. But Meadows struggled against breaking balls at the Triple-A level, hitting .170 with a .158 expected batting average and a 35.6% strikeout rate.
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Meadows will be challenged to avoid chasing breaking balls and keep his swing in time to hit fastballs. He hasn’t accomplished both tasks at the same time at any level in 2024. In the first round of the majors, pitchers outplayed him with elevated fastballs and breaking balls below the zone.
Meadows, the 44th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, is a .182 hitter with five home runs, 28 walks (12.2% walk rate) and 69 strikeouts (30% strikeout rate) in 69 career MLB games, spanning parts of two seasons.
If Meadows does get the hit, he’ll remain in center field for the Tigers for the remainder of the 2024 season. The latest roster move marks his second chance to stay in the Major Leagues after making his MLB debut in August 2023.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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