Tigers Catcher Thayron Liranzo's Bat Will Play (original) (raw)

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Stationed behind the plate in Scottsdale, Ariz., catcher Thayron Liranzo was warming up an Arizona Fall League teammate.

Fastball. Fastball. Slider.

An American League scout looked on. “How he fits behind the plate is going to decide Liranzo’s future,” the scout said. “He’ll hit. He’s left no doubt about that. He’ll hit.”

Acquired by the Tigers at the 2024 trade deadline, along with shortstop Trey Sweeney, in the exchange that sent righthander Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers, Liranzo was no stranger to the Midwest League, his first assignment with his new organization.

The 21-year-old switch-hitter had spent the first 74 games of season with High-A Great Lakes. He joined West Michigan after the trade and produced a 1.031 OPS in 26 games.

Liranzo hit .244/.378/.408 with 12 home runs, 75 walks and 102 strikeouts in 100 total MWL games.

Working extensively with Tigers’ roving catching instructor Brayan Peña, Liranzo has received firsthand knowledge of where his focus should be. That progress began to get noticed in the AFL.

“His work ethic is top tier when it comes developing as a catcher,” lefthander and fellow Fall Leaguer Jake Miller said. “I know him and Peña put in some excellent work together in the Fall League.

“I can tell we made strides together between the first time he caught me with (West Michigan) through the last time he caught me in the Fall League,” Miller said. “The more he caught me, the more he understood what my pitches do, and we started to develop a good plan on how to attack guys.”

Already showcasing an eye-catching arm from behind the plate, Liranzo’s hunger for defensive growth is proving to be a cultivation ground for Detroit’s developmental staff heading into 2025.

“He’s easy to root for,” the AL scout said. “The bat talks. That thing will talk loud, if he lets it. We’ll see if the defense can keep up.”