DETROIT — This is it. The dawn of a new season, the glory of sunshine, the sweet chorus of wood popping and leather smacking all return Wednesday, when pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training.

The Tigers enter 2026 with so much ahead of them — and with the stakes raised considerably. No longer are they a young team trying to prove themselves. No longer is making the playoffs good enough. They have a team built to win, favored by many to capture their division. But the struggles of last season’s second half loom as a reminder of what can happen when the floor falls out. Nothing is guaranteed. The year is long. There will be plot twists and surprises, triumphs and failures for the better part of the next eight months.

Here are three of the biggest topics as camp begins:

Can Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez lead the Tigers to a division title?

Fresh off his landmark $32 million arbitration victory, Tarik Skubal will enter camp considerably richer. He is also entering his last season under team control after an offseason of rumors, speculation and general awkwardness. The important thing now? Skubal remains a Tiger, and the team’s signing of Framber Valdez could legitimize the team’s rotation as among the very best in all of baseball.

Despite Skubal’s dominance, the Tigers ranked 17th overall in ERA last season. Their rotation ERA ranked 11th. The team gushes about the fact that it has made the playoffs in two straight seasons, but the Tigers have not won the American League Central since 2014. Only seven teams have longer division-title droughts. FanGraphs currently has the Tigers as division favorites, with 59.3 percent odds of winning the Central. 

The team’s best path to improvement on last season’s 87-win campaign could be better performance from its pitching staff. A new 1-2 punch that could be the American League’s best gives the Tigers a good place to start. Valdez’s signing is likely to become official later this week. Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize join him in the team’s rotation.

It will be interesting to learn more about the status of Reese Olson, who dealt with a shoulder strain last July and might not be a lock to be ready for Opening Day. If Olson isn’t full-go or another injury arises, Drew Anderson (signed for $7 million this offseason) and Troy Melton (who impressed in his first taste of the big leagues last season) could be lined up to battle for a rotation spot. If not, Anderson could move to the bullpen, and Melton could start in Triple A.

Will Kevin McGonigle get a legit shot at the Opening Day roster?

The No. 2 prospect in baseball will have all eyes on him this spring. So far, the Tigers have not totally ruled out the idea of McGonigle making the Opening Day roster. There’s also the reality that McGonigle has yet to play a game in Triple A and has only played 36 games in Double A.

He is a talented prospect with elite bat-to-ball skills. Although many in the industry believe he might be better suited for second or third base in the long term, McGonigle could also be well-positioned to capture playing time at shortstop. He’s proven to be a competent defender, and the Tigers do not have a clear answer at shortstop entering the spring. Javier Báez has two more years left on his deal, but manager A.J. Hinch might be inclined to move Báez to center field and other positions as he did for much of last year. Zach McKinstry has excelled in relatively small samples at shortstop, but he will also have to prove his All-Star season last year was no fluke.

With MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive one of many factors at play, might McGonigle prove too good to leave in the minors? Or will the Tigers let him marinate as they tend to do with their prospects?

That answer might start to become clear in the early days of camp.

What can the Tigers expect from Riley Greene and their lineup?

Right now, it feels like 2026 could be a season that defines what the rest of Riley Greene’s career might look like.

He is only 25 years old and already has two All-Star appearances under his belt. He crushed 36 home runs last year, reaching the highest visions of his power ceiling. He also led the American League with 201 strikeouts, hit just .216 in the final 50 games of the year, declined notably in his average sprint speed, and fell off a cliff defensively, going from plus-14 Defensive Runs Saved in 2024 to minus-7 last season.

Greene remains a talented young hitter. If he can maintain his power while cutting down on his strikeouts, he remains a player who could garner top-five MVP votes. There are also concerns about Greene’s body and the toll it has absorbed already in his career. The Tigers may look to DH Greene more often this season, which will have ripple effects for other players such as Kerry Carpenter. 

Despite all the concerns, Greene is still arguably the best hitter in a Tigers’ lineup looking to prove it has the firepower needed to contend for an AL pennant. The Tigers did not add a single position player on a major-league deal this winter, instead choosing to stick with their young core and lean on internal improvements from players such as Colt Keith.

Greene staying healthy, staying nimble and finding the right balance in his offensive profile would go a long way toward helping the Tigers be an even more potent offense than the version that ranked 11th in run-scoring last season.