TAMPA, Fla. -- Ron Gardenhire followed the tradition of Major League managers warning not to put much into Spring Training batting orders. Still, Leonys Martin looked like a leadoff hitter to begin the Tigers' Grapefruit League opener Friday against the Yankees.
Martin has leadoff speed, but the track record of someone who fits lower in the order. Given the rest of Detroit's lineup, Martin could make Gardenhire's job easier if he could change that.
"He can be one of those guys that creates a lot of havoc on the basepaths," Gardenhire said. "He can be a guy that if you get him in our ballpark, he can hit a single up the middle and he can be standing on second base.