Detroit Tigers prospects Justice Bigbie, Jace Jung among third roster cuts in spring camp

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers removed four players, including two prospects, from the major-league clubhouse on Thursday morning in the third round of spring training cuts, following 16 cuts in the first and second rounds.

The prospects: outfielder Justice Bigbie and infielder Jace Jung.

"I felt like he really grew into a comfortable routine," manager A.J. Hinch said of Bigbie. "The defensive work, the routine in the cage. His game actions got better and better as camp went along. The organization has been telling us in the big leagues how much improvement he's had. We got to see it on the field in the span of only a few weeks."

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The Tigers reassigned Bigbie, Jung and right-hander Brenan Hanifee to minor-league camp. The Tigers also optioned infielder Buddy Kennedy — claimed off waivers Feb. 29 from the St. Louis Cardinals — to Triple-A Toledo.

There are 40 players remaining in MLB spring training, with 14 days until Opening Day. The number of players in the room is getting smaller, and the competition is heating up.

Bigbie, 25, hit .335 with 20 home runs, 52 walks (9.2% walk rate) and 87 strikeouts (15.3% strikeout rate) across 135 games last season, including 37 games in High-A West Michigan, 63 games in Double-A Erie, 15 games in Triple-A Toledo and 20 games in the Arizona Fall League.

The former 19th-round pick will begin the season in Triple-A Toledo.

"He's a phone call away," Hinch said, "and he's progressing nicely as a player."

THE ANSWER: Tigers need a third baseman. Can prospect Jace Jung be the long-term solution?

Jung, 23, hit .259 with 29 home runs, 93 walks (14.5% walk rate) and 158 strikeouts (23.9% strikeout rate) across 143 games last season, including 81 games in High-A West Michigan, 47 games in Double-A Erie and 15 games in the Arizona Fall League.

Jung, a natural second baseman, has spent spring training learning third base and improving his defensive actions at the hot corner, working closely with infield coach Joey Cora.

"We wanted to let him know what his schedule was going to be like over the next couple of weeks," Hinch said. "I hope that he's enjoyed camp. ... He grew through his relationships with so many people in our clubhouse. We hope to see him soon."

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Jung is the Tigers' No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and the No. 60 prospect in baseball. Bigbie ranks No. 13 in the Tigers' farm system, but he isn't listed among the top-100 prospects.

See ya, Cease

The Tigers expected to face Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease, one of the best pitchers in the division who finished second in 2022 American League Cy Young voting, on Opening Day, set for March 28.

Not anymore.

"I just double-checked to make sure it wasn't an AL Central team," Hinch said, "and I wanted to know when we play his next team. He has been a very difficult matchup for us. I'm sure (the White Sox) got a ton of talent they like coming back, but good luck to the NL West."

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The White Sox traded Cease, who doesn't become a free agent until after the 2025 season, to the San Diego Padres. In return, the White Sox received pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson and outfielder Samuel Zavala.

Cease, 28, owns a 2.07 ERA with 31 walks and 102 strikeouts over 82⅔ innings in his 15-start career against the Tigers. He also has a 3.40 ERA in 15 starts against the Kansas City Royals, a 4.69 ERA in 13 starts against the Minnesota Twins and a 3.96 ERA in 12 starts against the Cleveland Guardians.

Right-hander Erick Fedde is shaping up to be the Opening Day starter for the White Sox against the Tigers.

Fedde, 31, signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the White Sox in mid-December after spending last season in Korea, posting a 2.00 ERA across 180⅓ innings for the NC Dinos.

Medical update

The Tigers still have just one player on the medical report.

Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, all while advancing in his running progression. Gipson-Long, 26, suffered the injury in the first week of spring training.

The Tigers haven't had multiple players on the medical report since March 8.

Right-handed reliever Jason Foley, who hasn't pitched since March 7 due to what Hinch described as "mid-camp fatigue," will pitch out of the bullpen Friday against the Atlanta Braves at Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland.

ONLY INJURY: Sawyer Gipson-Long's injury a lesson for all Tigers, and an exercise in patience

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers prospects Justice Bigbie, Jace Jung among roster cuts