Tigers Release Lineup and Pitching Plan for Spring Training Opener Friday

We are approaching the beginning of Spring Training games, and thus the start of seeing Major League teams in action for the first time in 2020. Some teams will begin crafting rosters that harbor aspirations of making the playoffs, or even playing for the World Series in October. Other teams are mired in a rebuild, hoping to get their organization in the right direction.

One of those teams stuck in the middle of an organizational overhaul is the Detroit Tigers, but that doesn't make their return to live baseball any less joyous. The 2012 World Series runners-up have fallen on tough times as of late, and have yet to make the playoffs since 2014. Second-year manager Ron Gardenhire has been tasked with guiding the Tigers through the rebuild, and the first glimpse we'll get of his boys in action comes Friday against Southeastern University.

Even if it is just an exhibition against a college squad, Gardenhire will want every confidence boost possible for his young squad. That is why he is sending out 23-year-old prospect Tarik Skubal to begin the game. Skubal, an extremely fast riser, is the organization's third-ranked prospect, and Friday's game will be an excellent early chance to carry last year's momentum on to 2020. Following Skubal will be any combination of Rony Garcia, Nolan Blackwood, Anthony Castro and Gerson Moreno. Here is Friday's batting order to start the game:

1. 2B Harold Castro

2. SS Willi Castro

3. 1B Brandon Dixon

4. LF Jorge Bonifacio

5. 3B Dawel Lugo

6. DH Travis Demeritte

7. RF Daz Cameron

8. C Eric Haase

9. CF Derek Hill

Daz Cameron will certainly be a name to pay attention to this Spring, as the Tigers try to locate their talent for the future. Along with Willi Castro, these prospects will never have a better shot than this one to crack the Opening Day roster.