DETROIT -- The Tigers spent Thursday afternoon crushing tape-measure home runs in batting practice at Comerica Park, then took their big swings into their series opener against the Royals. Christin Stewart and Nicholas Castellanos homered on back-to-back pitches from Jorge Lopez, on a night when fly balls were carrying despite the flags blowing in.
Stewart, the Tigers' No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was among the big swingers in batting practice, hitting one ball into the shrubs beyond center field, and another onto the party deck in right. When Lopez hung a 1-1 changeup, Stewart pounced, sending a fly ball just over the right-field fence for his first Major League home run after hitting 93 homers over four seasons in the Minors.