AJ Hinch breaks down Parker Meadows disappointing 2025 at the plate. Scott Harris reminds us that Dillon Dingler was in the same position to end 2024, but had an amazing 2025.

12 comments

1. Stoney on the question!

   Be great if Parker was like the end of the ’24 season as his normal type of game. But Parker has probably been 2/3 of his professional career including the minors as really struggling. I know he has had a lot of injuries. But makes me wonder if August/September ’24 Parker was just a couple hot months and his regular game is what we saw this year?

2. meh, Parker is deeper into his MLB career though. He also doesn’t play catcher…personally I trust Parker very little his whole career even in minors he has been an inconsistent hitter outside a great stretch 2 last year to end the season he has overall stunk at the plate.

3. Problem is Meadows has gotten a fair amount of plate appearances and has looked bad more than he has looked good.

   I think it’s good to keep him as a bench guy next year and compete for a spot, but we need a better bat out there.

4. All I hear is excuses they just need to man up and admit not making a deal at the trade line cost us and some of the decisions hinch made cost us

5. Parker has had stretches where he looks good but then follows it up with an injury and then when he comes back he looks bad again 

6. CF market this year is out of Tigers reach.  Bader, Grisham, and Bellinger are all gonna want big, long contracts.  

   Rest of the options are bad enough that you might as well keep Meadows in CF and wait for Clark.

   You can’t just evaluate players in a vacuum.  You have to see what your possible options are too, and Harris knows he doesn’t have a lot of options outside of waiting.

7. I don’t know what Parker’s issue is, but I keep seeing people talk about how “he just needs to find his rhythm”. Well, that’s what Toledo’s for. He needs some constant time to work on his game, and if he shows he can improve then bring him back, but right now he’s just not at the level he needs to be.

8. Hmm, yeah, idk. Meadows wasn’t that good a hitter in the minors. If he can’t hit even a little he would be so valuable. I’m just not sure how much longer the Tigers can go on like this.

9. Am I taking crazy pills, or is the Meadows hate a little bit overblown?

   Did he have a good season? Not really, but he dealt with a lot of injury problems all season, but had an OPS of .723 when he returned in September, presumably fully healthy and with consistent playing time. He had a terrible playoff, no doubt, but a good defensive CF who has the ability to OPS over .700 is pretty valuable. He just needs to show that he can actually do it for a full season.

10. No more Meadows. Can that be a rule going forward?

11. Parker adds a lot to the team. If he can be just as good as like JP Crawford is for the Mariners that would be ok. Elite defense. Give good at bats in the 9 slot. Steal bases. Bunt. All the dirty work. I don’t think we can rely on him to be a leadoff hitter though moving forward.

12. I think his throwing arm is still hurting a bit from the nerve damage. It’s not only affecting his batting, you can even see it when he makes throws to the cutoff after a hit or a tag. It’s more of a lazy toss than a bullet. He’s gonna be better by spring.