Valdez shines in scoreless debut, hinting at smooth transition as Tigers prepare for Dominican Republic exhibition games.
Detroit closed out its final tune-up at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium with a 5–2 loss, but the bigger storyline was the first appearance of Framber Valdez in a Tigers uniform as the club prepares to travel to Santo Domingo for World Baseball Classic exhibition games later this week.
Valdez worked three scoreless innings in his debut, showing the same calm tempo and ground-ball profile that has defined his career. He allowed just one hit, struck out two, and consistently generated weak contact, needing only a handful of pitches to navigate early traffic. Detroit’s infield defense backed him up with several routine plays, and the left-hander exited after a clean third inning with the game still scoreless.
His outing set the tone for what the Tigers hope will be a smooth transition as the club heads to the Dominican Republic for a pair of World Baseball Classic tune-up matchups — one against Team Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo and a split-squad setup Wednesday featuring games against both Panama and the Dominican side.
Offensively, Detroit struggled to string together hits early despite singles from Jake Rogers, Kerry Carpenter, and Eduardo Valencia through the first three innings. The Tigers ran into two double plays in the opening frames, stalling any early momentum.
Casey Mize followed Valdez and kept the game quiet into the fifth, but Atlanta broke through when Brett Wisely reached and later scored on a force play that included a throwing error. The inning opened the door for a 1–0 lead, and the Braves added separation in the sixth when DaShawn Keirsey Jr. launched a two-run homer to left, pushing the margin to 3–0.
Detroit’s offense finally showed life late. Brett Callahan provided the highlight of the night with a solo home run in the seventh, his second of the spring, and Tomás Nido added another solo shot in the ninth to account for the Tigers’ scoring.
The bullpen mixed in solid moments, including clean work from Drew Sommers and Ricky Vanasco, though Atlanta added insurance runs in the seventh and ninth to seal the result.
While the final score leaned toward Atlanta, the game served more as a checkpoint than a measuring stick. Valdez’s efficient debut, continued reps for young infielders like Jace Jung and Max Anderson, and late power from Callahan and Nido provided several positives as Detroit transitions into international competition.
The focus now shifts south. With the Tigers heading to Santo Domingo, the next few games will offer a different environment, louder crowds, WBC energy, and another chance for players to sharpen roles in a nice change of enviroment.
Three Quick Takeaways
Framber Valdez’s first Tigers appearance looked exactly as advertised
The left-hander worked three scoreless innings, keeping hitters off balance with weak contact and quick outs. It was a clean, efficient debut and a strong first step as Detroit now shifts its focus to the World Baseball Classic tune-up games in Santo Domingo.
Brett Callahan’s contact continues to jump off the bat
Callahan’s seventh-inning home run wasn’t just another spring stat — it was another example of how loud his contact has been all camp. The ball carried immediately off the bat, reinforcing a trend of hard-hit swings that continue to stand out in game action. If he is healthy, he will be one to watch at either West Michigan or Erie.
Former Tiger Joey Wentz kept Detroit’s offense quiet
Wentz turned in a strong outing against his former club, limiting hard contact and helping stall any early momentum. Detroit struggled to string together quality at-bats during his time on the mound, making him a key factor in keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard early.