In a season that had high expectations after the way, the Detroit Tigers concluded the 2023 season. Things got off to a hot start but after starting 5-1 things changed and the Tigers dropped. In July they’ve had a shift going 9-4 now at the break they are three games under .500 at 47-50 and sit 12 games back of the American League Central and are seven games back of the wild card. So at the break who deserves an award for their first half?
MVP: OF – Riley Greene
Greene in his third big league season has played in 96 games hitting .271 with a .867 OPS; he has 21 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 50 RBI, 56 runs scored, four stolen bases, and 49 walks. Greene is first on the Tigers in batting average, OPS, doubles, home runs, RBI, runs scored, and walks; he is also tied for first in triples. He is 18th in baseball in OPS, tied for eighth in triples, 23rd in runs scored, and eighth in walks.
Cy Young: LHP – Tarik Skubal
Skubal entered the season as a Cy Young favorite, and he’s proved why in the first half. In 19 starts he is 10-3 with a 2.41 ERA a 2.57 FIP, a 0.88 WHIP, and 140 strikeouts in 116 innings. He leads the Tigers in ERA, WHIP, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He is fifth in baseball in ERA, sixth in FIP, third in WHIP, sixth in strikeouts, and 14th in MLB.
Rookie: INF – Colt Keith
Keith got off to a slow start but has turned things around as of late. In 86 games this season he is hitting .253 with a .703 OPS; he has ten doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 37 RBI, 36 runs scored, five stolen bases, and 22 walks. He is second on the Tigers in batting average among qualified players, third in OPS, third in home runs, third in RBI, tied for fourth in runs scored, and third in walks. Among all qualified rookies, he is 12th in batting average, tenth in OPS, 16th in doubles, tied for fifth in home runs, fourth in RBI, tied for ninth in runs scored, and tied for tenth in walks.
Prospect: OF – Max Clark – Lakeland Flying Tigers
Clark is the Tigers top-ranked prospect and in 2024 he’s had a good season in Single-A playing in 71 games hitting .279 with a .785 OPS; he has ten doubles, three triples, six home runs, 57 RBI, 52 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, and 47 walks. In the Florida State League, he ranked fifth in batting average, eighth in OPS, tied for 13th in triples, tied for 21st in home runs, first in RBI, first in runs scored, fourth in walks, and second in stolen bases.
