Framber Valdez dazzles on the mound; McGonigle's diving gem sparks a pivotal double play, securing a 3-1 Tigers' win in the final game of the 2026 Grapefruit League season.
Lakeland, FL: If the Tigers final 2026 Spring Training home game in Lakeland was an indication of what to expect from Framber Valdez, the Tigers rotation should be in good shape. The Tigers won 3 to 1 in front of a sold out crowd in Lakeland.
Framber Valdez made his case for a strong regular season debut in his final spring tuneup against the Yankees, delivering 6.1 innings of one-run ball on 77 pitches. He allowed seven hits and two walks, but the damage was minimal, the sinker held up deep into the outing, touching 93.9 mph in the sixth inning after sitting 92-93 through the early frames.
The curveball was his strikeout pitch, accounting for three of his four punchouts on the day, and the changeup gave him a third weapon at 33% whiffs. It was the kind of outing you want from your number two starter heading into Opening Day when he takes the bump in game 2 on the road against San Diego next week and also take the bump on Opening Day in Detroit against St. Louis on April 3rd.
The Tigers offense did just enough to back Valdez and the bullpen, scratching across three runs on a collection of timely hits and smart baserunning.
Detroit got on the board in the fifth inning when Kerry Carpenter delivered an RBI single to right field, plating Javier Báez to knot the game at one. Báez had worked his way into scoring position the hard way, reaching on a single, then swiping second base before tagging up to third on a Matt Vierling flyout. Carpenter's line drive to right made it count.
The Tigers took their first lead in the sixth, and it came with a bit of flair. Jahmai Jones drew a leadoff walk and moved to third when Colt Keith singled into right, though Keith was thrown out trying to stretch it to second on a heads-up relay from Max Schuemann to Amed Rosario to José Caballero. Jones held at third, and Dillon Dingler came through with a sacrifice fly to left, giving Detroit a 2-1 advantage.
The cushion grew in the seventh. Javier Báez led off with a double, and after being replaced on the bases by pinch-runner John Peck, Matt Vierling — who had entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the fifth and stayed in as the center fielder — roped a ground-rule double to left-center that scored Peck and made it 3-1. Vierling now has five doubles on the spring and continues to make a strong case for a roster spot heading into the regular season.
The defense made its presence felt as well. In the second inning, Kevin McGonigle made a diving stop on a scorched liner off the bat of Jasson Domínguez, registering an exit velocity of 104.5 mph, and converted it into a double play to end the threat. It was the kind of instinctive, highlight-reel play that can swing momentum, and it helped Valdez escape what could have been a damaging frame early in his outing. For McGonigle, it was another statement moment as he continues to push for a spot on the 40-man roster before the roster deadline arrives.
"He's a quick learner," Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. "His ability to process, everything from the subtleties within the positions to feedback when he makes a mistake, is a great sign for a young player who is trying to find his way so he is not overwhelmed by the moment".
Ryan Yarbrough, who took over from Brent Headrick in the fifth, kept the Yankees at bay through his portion of the game, and Drew Anderson came on in the seventh to finish out the frame after Valdez departed. The Tigers' bullpen as a whole looked comfortable managing the late innings with the lead in hand as Drew Anderson, Brenan Hanifee and Tyler Holton kept New York off the board.
With Opening Day now days away, the Tigers appear to be rounding into form as they end Grapefruit League 8-12-4 as the team heads out to Arizona Saturday night for two games against the Colorado Rockies.
Tigers Tidbits: Gleyber Torres, who was pulled to start the game with back tightness, after being scheduled to start, is fine, according to manager A.J. Hinch and will play in both games against the Rockies.
With the current Tigers outfield situation looking like it's settled, outfielder Austin Slater has exercised the release clause in his contract and can join any team.
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