MINNEAPOLIS – Baseball is such an exciting, strange, cruel business. And, yet, sometimes, it can be downright infuriating.
That’s why I’m so happy for shortstop John Peck. And I feel sick for second baseman Max Anderson.
The Detroit Tigers just promoted the former to the big leagues and he made his MLB debut in the eighth inning of an otherwise forgettable 11-1 blowout loss to the Minnesota Twins
on Monday, Aug. 31.It’s so cool seeing young, talented players get a chance.
Meanwhile, Anderson is still stuck at Triple-A Toledo, even though he is considered one of the best hitters in the minor leagues. Not just for the Tigers. But all of Triple-A.
Peck, a seventh-round pick
in the 2023 MLB Draft, should be thrilled – he deserves his moments this week.
Anderson, meanwhile – a second-rounder in 2023 – has every reason to be ticked off. Peck has just six games with Toledo, though those brought a 1.256 OPS (following a solid .839 OPS in 58 games with Double-A Erie). Anderson entered Monday with 93 games with Toledo this season, with an .889 OPS.
But there's one thing I know for certain, beyond the numbers: These two players have no animosity toward each other – they are close friends and have been roommates for years.
In fact, this wasn’t really about picking Anderson or Peck.
Think of it this way: The Tigers used seven rookie positiom players Monday in the first game of this series against the Twins.
Freakin’ seven!
But their best hitting prospect (or at least the one not in the majors) is still with Triple-A Toledo.
Like I said, baseball can be infuriating.
What Tigers like about John Peck
So, why did the Tigers bring up Peck?
Well, he’s a great defensive player and has some pop in his bat. But he also fits the construction of this team perfectly right now. By bringing up such a strong defensive shortstop, the Tigers can let Kevin McGonigle concentrate on third base. All while getting a chance to see what Peck can do.
Make no mistake, Peck deserves this promotion.
So, why didn’t the Tigers bring up Anderson?
Well, it hinges on how their roster is constructed with Gleyber Torres and Hao-Yu Lee on the right side of the infield.
The Tigers have a logjam at second base – from Toledo to Detroit, really – when you consider Anderson, Lee and Torres all share similar skill sets.
Especially if McGonigle is going to play more third base.
So, that’s why Anderson is kind of stuck right now, even if it’s frustrating
Like I said before, he has every reason to be ticked off.
How Max Anderson and John Peck impressed in Lakeland
Now, let me take you back to spring training, to explain how we got here.
When the Tigers opened camp, there was an interesting cluster of non-roster invitees who were all bunched together in the middle of the Tigers clubhouse, using portable lockers.
That cluster included Anderson, McGonigle, Peck and Max Clark.
And all four saw more playing time than I ever expected because of a perfect storm of opportunity.
Torres left camp to play in the WBC with Team Venezuela. Lee went to the WBC with Chinese Taipei and then got injured. Matt Vierling was coming back from an injury and spending most of the time in the outfield. And Javier Báez got a stiff back in the Dominican Republic.
The door was open and these youngsters jumped through it.
McGonigle played his way onto the team – and almost certainly into winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award – while Anderson and Peck stuck around to the end of camp, impressing everybody with their play and poise.
“We obviously really like him defensively,” Hinch said of Peck on Monday afternoon. “We've liked how he's developed offensively over the last couple of seasons. … He's a reliable guy. We loved him in spring. We've loved him during the season, and he's going to get a little bit of a run here to help us on the position player side.”
Needless to say, Peck made quite the impression in spring training.
“We saw stability, which is something that he brings every day,” Hinch said. “He's a reliable person, reliable player. He's very prepared. He's very under control. He wasn't overwhelmed. … He's a mature guy with just the way he goes about his actions and his business.”
Now, the Tigers have a clubhouse filled with rookies. Guys Peck has played with. He has seen them transition to the big leagues, and it should give him confidence.
“It should make him believe before he has to go out and do it,” Hinch said. “And I told him he's here to stay.”
Taking an Uber to the big leagues
As luck would have it, the Mud Hens were playing the Twins' Triple-A team in St. Paul, Minnesota – just across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis – right before the Tigers arrived for this three-game series.
Which made this call up to the big leagues one of the easiest – at least logistically – imaginable.
“So, a 20-minute Uber over, which was great,” Peck said late Monday night. “But yeah, all the emotions. Super-excited, nervous, all of them. Called my family immediately, and tears were there, but it was awesome.”
Several family members made it to watch Peck’s debut. Even if it felt kind of strange, considering Tuesday was expected to be the big day. Just some mop-up action in a blowout. But it got the nerves out.
“That was big for me,” Peck said. “I was thinking about it the whole time in the dugout, so it was it was nice to actually get out there and get my feet wet a little bit.”
He is expected to start at shortstop Tuesday night in the second game of this series.
Meanwhile, the Tigers – a team that desperately needs offense – has its best hitting prospect stuck in Toledo.
Can it be explained with how the roster is constructed right now, with the logjam at second base?
Yes.
Can it be infuriating at the same time?
Yes.
What more can Anderson do to prove he deserves a promotion?
Nothing, really.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Be happy for John Peck, but why is Max Anderson stuck in Toledo
