TIGERS

Meet the newest Tiger: Austin Meadows

The Detroit News
Rays' Austin Meadows offers a gripping prelude to an otherwise dreary display of baseball played under a dome.
Rays' Austin Meadows offers a gripping prelude to an otherwise dreary display of baseball played under a dome.
Chris O'Meara, AP
Rays' Austin Meadows triples and scores on a throwing error by Tigers' Harold Castro in the third inning beating the throw to Tigers catcher John Hicks.
Rays' Austin Meadows triples and scores on a throwing error by Tigers' Harold Castro in the third inning beating the throw to Tigers catcher John Hicks.
Robin Buckson, Detroit News
Tampa Bay's Austin Meadows, right, the brother of Detroit prospect Parker Meadows, celebrates with Yandy Diaz after Meadows scored.
Tampa Bay's Austin Meadows, right, the brother of Detroit prospect Parker Meadows, celebrates with Yandy Diaz after Meadows scored.
Chris O'Meara, Associated Press
Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows (17) who was trying to steal second during the sixth inning.
Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum tags out Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows (17) who was trying to steal second during the sixth inning.
Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows, right, and New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine watch a long foul ball during a game Sunday, May 12, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows, right, and New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine watch a long foul ball during a game Sunday, May 12, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Steve Nesius, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows watches his two-run home run during the third inning of the team's game against the Cleveland Indians on July 24, 2021 in Cleveland.
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows watches his two-run home run during the third inning of the team's game against the Cleveland Indians on July 24, 2021 in Cleveland.
Tony Dejak, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows flies out against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows flies out against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows hits a solo home run during the fifth inning in Game 5 of a baseball American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows hits a solo home run during the fifth inning in Game 5 of a baseball American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Gregory Bull, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows hits a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows hits a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning during game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning during game 3 of a baseball American League Division Series, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Michael Dwyer, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows watches his two-run home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 14, 2021, in Chicago. Randy Arozarena also scored on the play. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Tampa Bay Rays' Austin Meadows watches his two-run home run off Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 14, 2021, in Chicago. Randy Arozarena also scored on the play. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco celebrates after scoring on an RBI single by Austin Meadows off Boston Red Sox pitcher Stephen Gonsalves during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco celebrates after scoring on an RBI single by Austin Meadows off Boston Red Sox pitcher Stephen Gonsalves during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara, AP
Austin Meadows rounds third after hitting home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Friday, April 2, 2021, in Miami.
Austin Meadows rounds third after hitting home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Friday, April 2, 2021, in Miami.
Gaston De Cardenas, Associated Press
No. 17 Austin Meadows, left field — L-L, 6-3, 225. Age in season: 27 Bold move by Tigers GM Al Avila, who responded to an injury to center fielder Riley Greene by acquiring a slugging corner outfielder, sending prospect Isaac Paredes and a 71st overall draft pick to Tampa on the eve of the regular season. But Meadows, a left-handed hitter, hit 60 homers and drove in 195 runs in 2019 and 2021, with a rough 2020 sandwiched in between. The Tigers play in a division dominated by right-handed pitching, which Meadows has feasted on in his career (.525 slugging, .875 OPS). It will be fascinating to see how Hinch mixes and matches his outfielders, without Greene and then when he gets back. 2021: .234 BA, 119 wRC-plus, 2.1 WAR 2022 salary: $4 million
No. 17 Austin Meadows, left field — L-L, 6-3, 225. Age in season: 27 Bold move by Tigers GM Al Avila, who responded to an injury to center fielder Riley Greene by acquiring a slugging corner outfielder, sending prospect Isaac Paredes and a 71st overall draft pick to Tampa on the eve of the regular season. But Meadows, a left-handed hitter, hit 60 homers and drove in 195 runs in 2019 and 2021, with a rough 2020 sandwiched in between. The Tigers play in a division dominated by right-handed pitching, which Meadows has feasted on in his career (.525 slugging, .875 OPS). It will be fascinating to see how Hinch mixes and matches his outfielders, without Greene and then when he gets back. 2021: .234 BA, 119 wRC-plus, 2.1 WAR 2022 salary: $4 million
Chris O'Meara, AP