Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch did not express concern with one of the few players on the roster struggling in the first two weeks of the season.
Second baseman Colt Keith mishandled a ground ball that could have been a double play with two runners on and no outs in the ninth inning. The error loaded the bases, leading to a two-RBI single from Aaron Judge to push the lead to four runs.
The Tigers (7-5) answered with a rally in the last inning, but only pushed three runs across in the attempted comeback to drop the series finale with New York, 4-3.
“I don’t worry about Colt,” Hinch said. “I think Colt is a really good player. We’ve seen this and obviously, he wants to be doing everything perfectly. And right now, things aren’t perfect for him. But it doesn’t change where he fits in the batting order or on this team.”
Keith, who has moved back to playing primarily second base while Gleyber Torres is out with an oblique injury, committed three errors in the series against the Yankees. In Monday’s 6-2 win, Keith bobbled a groundball and missed on a throw to first base, leading to an unearned New York run on the double error.
Keith’s error on Wednesday allowed two runs to score, one earned to reliever John Brebbia and one unearned.
“I think Colt has a little bit of stillness to the way he’s going about his defense,” Hinch said. “He’s a little flat-footed and the ball is playing him a little bit. We have seen him be a better defender. He’s going to be a better defender. He can make any play that he hasn’t made, and it is speeding up on him a little bit. So, just mistakes, which happen from time to time.”
Keith, in his second year, initially came into the season penciled in as the Tigers’ first baseman. He switched from second in the offseason to provide another option on the right side of the infield while Spencer Torkelson battled for a spot on the roster.
Torkelson used a strong spring performance to lock up a roster spot and has slid back into an everyday role at first base with Keith at second as Torres goes through rehab. Torkelson has been a bright spot early, hitting .311 (14-of-45) with three home runs.
Keith has not succeeded much at the plate, hitting .171 (6-of-35) with one RBI. Keith has still found a way to get on base with 12 walks through the first 12 games, ranking first in the American League and third in MLB in free passes.
The defensive improvements, Hinch said, will come from a more aggressive approach.
“We’ve got to get him back athletic again, moving his feet and attacking the ball as opposed to letting the hot play come,” Hinch said. “Sounds simple enough and he’s going to get the opportunity to make a response.”
Hinch reiterated his belief in the 23-year-old infielder, saying some of the mistakes are magnified because it is still early in the season. He also pointed to Keith’s rookie year, where he hit .260 with 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .689 OPS while serving as the team’s everyday second baseman.
“Guys go through these stretches,” Hinch said. “When they go through them at the beginning, it feels like the world is caving in a little bit. When it is soaked up in the middle of the season, nobody really worries about it.
“We have to remember, this guy was really good last season. Especially as he got more and more comfortable and the weather warmed up. But no, I don’t fear what’s going on with him.”
Jared Ramsey covers sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch not worried about Colt Keith’s start
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch did not express concern with one of the few players on the roster struggling in the first two weeks of the season.
Second baseman Colt Keith mishandled a ground ball that could have been a double play with two runners on and no outs in the ninth inning. The error loaded the bases, leading to a two-RBI single from Aaron Judge to push the lead to four runs.
The Tigers (7-5) answered with a rally in the last inning, but only pushed three runs across in the attempted comeback to drop the series finale with New York, 4-3.
“I don’t worry about Colt,” Hinch said. “I think Colt is a really good player. We’ve seen this and obviously, he wants to be doing everything perfectly. And right now, things aren’t perfect for him. But it doesn’t change where he fits in the batting order or on this team.”
Keith, who has moved back to playing primarily second base while Gleyber Torres is out with an oblique injury, committed three errors in the series against the Yankees. In Monday’s 6-2 win, Keith bobbled a groundball and missed on a throw to first base, leading to an unearned New York run on the double error.
Keith’s error on Wednesday allowed two runs to score, one earned to reliever John Brebbia and one unearned.
“I think Colt has a little bit of stillness to the way he’s going about his defense,” Hinch said. “He’s a little flat-footed and the ball is playing him a little bit. We have seen him be a better defender. He’s going to be a better defender. He can make any play that he hasn’t made, and it is speeding up on him a little bit. So, just mistakes, which happen from time to time.”
Keith, in his second year, initially came into the season penciled in as the Tigers’ first baseman. He switched from second in the offseason to provide another option on the right side of the infield while Spencer Torkelson battled for a spot on the roster.
Torkelson used a strong spring performance to lock up a roster spot and has slid back into an everyday role at first base with Keith at second as Torres goes through rehab. Torkelson has been a bright spot early, hitting .311 (14-of-45) with three home runs.
Keith has not succeeded much at the plate, hitting .171 (6-of-35) with one RBI. Keith has still found a way to get on base with 12 walks through the first 12 games, ranking first in the American League and third in MLB in free passes.
The defensive improvements, Hinch said, will come from a more aggressive approach.
“We’ve got to get him back athletic again, moving his feet and attacking the ball as opposed to letting the hot play come,” Hinch said. “Sounds simple enough and he’s going to get the opportunity to make a response.”
Hinch reiterated his belief in the 23-year-old infielder, saying some of the mistakes are magnified because it is still early in the season. He also pointed to Keith’s rookie year, where he hit .260 with 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .689 OPS while serving as the team’s everyday second baseman.
“Guys go through these stretches,” Hinch said. “When they go through them at the beginning, it feels like the world is caving in a little bit. When it is soaked up in the middle of the season, nobody really worries about it.
“We have to remember, this guy was really good last season. Especially as he got more and more comfortable and the weather warmed up. But no, I don’t fear what’s going on with him.”
Jared Ramsey covers sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch not worried about Colt Keith’s start
