DETROIT — For once, the announcement was completely unspectacular. There was no misdirection, no pranks, no over-the-top antics or emotional hugs.
Jace Jung and Trey Sweeney were doing hacks in the Toledo Mud Hens cage before a game in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday afternoon when Mud Hens manager Tim Federowicz entered the cage and blurted out the news.
“Our manager came in and said, ‘Jace and Sweeney are moving up,'” Sweeney said. “It’s that simple.”
Perhaps this scene perfectly sums up the theme of the Detroit Tigers’ recent promotions. While the timing may be a bit of a surprise, both players are trending toward the major leagues and are considered key pieces of next year’s team. The moves were straightforward and were made in the hopes of adding some positive momentum to the final weeks of this season and providing a taste of what next year may bring.
Jung, the third baseman best known for his powerful left-handed bat, was selected in the first round by the Tigers in 2022. He is the younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung. Intense and experienced, he gets this promotion after hitting 14 home runs and posting a .377 on-base percentage in Toledo.
“I think the first guy he backs away from is going to be the first guy he backs away from at all,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “I think it’s in his DNA. … He grew up not really dreaming of this place. He expected this place.”
Welcome to the show, @jace17jung! pic.twitter.com/Dg7muQuaRf
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) 16 August 2024
Jung still has questions about his ability to play third base defensively and hit high velocities. In Triple A, he batted just .179 with a whiff rate of 34.8 percent against pitches 95 mph or faster. Scouts continue to question his play at the hot corner.
Still, Jung brings an impressive hitting ability that the Tigers hope will keep him a part of their infield for years to come. He showed that feeling in his first at-bat on Friday against the New York Yankees. Trailing 1-2 against ace Gerrit Cole, Jung fouled off two difficult pitches before finally getting a seven-pitch walk.
Jung finished the night 0 for 2 with two walks. He was caught stealing second base on a play that was overturned after review, and was penalized for strikes twice, both times on borderline throws that appeared to touch the edge of the strike zone.
After Jung’s second strikeout, Tigers hitting coach Michael Brdar was ejected after a commotion in the dugout. Hinch spoke with home plate umpire Cory Blaser, and Jung addressed some of the harsh realities of major league life.
“It’s been my dream my whole life to be here,” Jung said. “I watched the World Series as a kid, it was a whirlwind, and I’m just excited to be here.”
As for Sweeney, the shortstop was just acclimating to Toledo after coming over from the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the trade deadline. Despite average numbers at the Dodgers’ Triple-A location, Sweeney hit his stride shortly after the trade, hitting .381 with two home runs in 11 games with the Mud Hens. As a left-handed shortstop, Sweeney is an obvious fit to pair with Javier Báez at shortstop next season.
However, Sweeney also has questions to answer, perhaps one reason why the Tigers drafted him so early. Scouts have mixed opinions on whether he has the defensive skills to stick as a shortstop – some praise his glove, others see him as more of a second baseman.
Sweeney’s actions appeared smooth in his debut Friday, a night in which he assisted on seven ground ball outs.
“I haven’t seen this kid play in person and I haven’t been around him at all,” Hinch said before the game, “but when you look at his range, when you look at his arm, when you look at all the traits you want in a shortstop, he has them.”
As for the bat, Sweeney has posted double-digit walk rates in the minors, but there are concerns about his susceptibility to strikeouts. He impressed with an average exit velocity of 90.9 mph in the minors, but also had a 34.7 percent whiff rate against breaking balls.
Sweeney hit 1-for-3 on Friday, and it just so happened that he was playing against the team that drafted him No. 20 in 2021. The Yankees traded Sweeney to the Dodgers in December before he eventually landed with Detroit. On Friday, Sweeney got his first MLB hit in the seventh inning on a ground ball that Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres threw wide of first base after a sliding stop.
“It was a generous hit,” Sweeney said. “But yeah, it felt good. … I didn’t know (it was a hit) until they threw the ball in.”
We heard Sweeney is trending 📈
Trey Sweeney records his first MLB hit pic.twitter.com/CAWMLk91le
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) 17 August 2024
The move to promote Sweeney and Jung shows the Tigers are focused on the future. To make room on the roster, they designated veteran infielder Gio Urshela for assignment and also called up left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, who played in Triple A. Hinch and President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris met with Urshela on Thursday, and Hinch said they told him, “We need to take a step in a new direction to give young players who deserve it a chance.”
Zach McKinstry, another left-hander who had played a similar role to Sweeney, oddly remained on the roster as the Tigers demoted outfielder Akil Baddoo instead. But with Riley Greene set to return from a rehab assignment soon, another move is on the horizon.
After their MLB debut, Sweney and Jung spoke about the whirlwind excitement of the day and expressed their gratitude for their family members who made the trip. Jung even watched a video message his brother recorded for him during his postgame press conference.
At the same time, both players kept their post-game responses short, nice and professional. They looked and played like they had been there before.
The Tigers hope they can stay here for a long time.
(Photo: Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
