There seems to be some uncertainty surrounding the start of spring training for Major League baseball teams at their traditional sites in Arizona and Florida, but Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd said Monday this it is a go.
"Everything is on tilt for February 17th right now, our report date," Boyd said. "We have to do everything that comes with that, all the protocols that we laid in place last year and those continue to evolve as these final weeks kind of wane down of the offseason leading into spring training. There will be some new protocols I'm sure inserted with that and I'm sure their will be throughout the year. We just have to be adaptable in this whole thing but everyone is excited for February 17th."
The Tigers have lost a lot more than they have won in the last six years, but with prospects emerging and A.J. Hinch as the new manager, the players are eager to see what they can do.
"Talking with all the guys in our group text and spending time with Boyd this last week I think there is a different feeling in the air of just I think we are really close," Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris said. "It is just exciting and a lot of it has to do with obviously the talent we have and the talent we have coming up but just the coaching staff that we just hired."
Most of the talent is wrapped up in the pitching staff.
Boyd, Norris and Michael Fulmer are the veterans while Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Spencer Turnbull are the up-and-comers.
"I don't think the message changes, it is go out there and attack and trust in your ability," Boyd said about the young guys. "Those guys are well beyond their years in terms of maturity but we all have room to grow. I am really excited to see what they are going to do this year they are so talented and it is really exciting to think about the talent we have on this staff collectively and what we can do."
