Tigers 2016 POY: Justin Verlander

For the Detroit Tigers, the 2016 season was one of near misses. The club finished at 86-75, and fell a bit short in both the AL Central and American League Wild Card playoff races. 

In the division, the Tigers were as close as just two games out as late as the start of August. They were still just 4.5 games back in early September.

But an 11-13 finish doomed the club. They finished eight games behind the eventual AL champion Cleveland Indians in the division race, just 2.5 back of the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays for a Wild Card berth.

Tigers Statistical Leaders

The leader of the offensive attack was, as usual, first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Miggy hit for a .316/.393/.563 slash line with 38 home runs, 31 doubles, 108 RBI, and 92 runs scored.

The surefire future Hall of Famer made his seventh straight AL All-Star team, his 11th overall MLB All-Star nod. He also won his seventh career Silver Slugger Award.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler hit .288 with 28 homers, 29 doubles, 83 RBI, 14 steals, and a team-high 117 runs scored. He led the club’s position players with a 6.1 WAR mark, and was just awarded his first career Gold Glove Award.

Fulmer credited Verlander with much of his success during the former’s Rookie of the Year campaign. In winning the honors, Fulmer became the first Tiger to take the AL ROY since Verlander did it back in 2006.

“He basically brought me back to his rookie year and told me everything he wished he would have done,” said Fulmer per Anthony Fenech at Detroit Free Press. “He was an open book. I had a ton of questions and he answered every single one of them.”

Fulmer credited Verlander with much of his success during the former’s Rookie of the Year campaign. In winning the honors, Fulmer became the first Tiger to take the AL ROY since Verlander did it back in 2006.

“He basically brought me back to his rookie year and told me everything he wished he would have done,” said Fulmer per Anthony Fenech at Detroit Free Press. “He was an open book. I had a ton of questions and he answered every single one of them.”

It was another strong season in what is now a 12-year big league career for Verlander, who turns 34 years old in Spring Training. It will be hard for him to top this season in which he is the Detroit Tigers 2016 Player of the Year.