Author | Lightnews

Cody Stavenhagen

Cody Stavenhagen

@codystavenhagen.bsky.social

4K followers 130 following 110 posts

Detroit Tigers and more MLB for The Athletic. Cohost of the Tiger Territory podcast. Fan of good people, good stories and good storytelling

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Reposted by Cody Stavenhagen

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · 4d

Forty-one years after 1984 and 37 years after 1988, Kirk Gibson is in the midst of his biggest October yet.

Here’s how Parkinson’s disease changed a World Series legend. And here’s how the new Kirk Gibson Center is helping change lives.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Ten years into his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Kirk Gibson is still changing lives in October

Gibson's most famous moment came 37 years ago this month. Now he's leading another team towards a very different goal.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · 4d

Forty-one years after 1984 and 37 years after 1988, Kirk Gibson is in the midst of his biggest October yet.

Here’s how Parkinson’s disease changed a World Series legend. And here’s how the new Kirk Gibson Center is helping change lives.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Ten years into his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Kirk Gibson is still changing lives in October

Gibson's most famous moment came 37 years ago this month. Now he's leading another team towards a very different goal.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Jul 10

Ethan Holliday will be one of the top players selected in the MLB Draft.

His family’s baseball dynasty is rooted in Stillwater.

But how, exactly, did all this come to be?

That's a deeper story that traces back to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Jun 25

In his Pittsburgh twilight, Andrew McCutchen is still here and still hitting

www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Jun 19

There have been only 15 knuckleballs thrown in the major leagues this year. Does the pitch's best hope rest off the shores of Lake Erie, where a Tigers prospect is throwing 88 mph knucklers?

On the death and potential rebirth of the knuckleball:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

The knuckleball is dying. Can a Tigers prospect firing 88 mph knucklers bring it back?

There are no true knuckleballers pitching in MLB today as organizations prioritize velocity. Kenny Serwa is aiming to change that.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Jun 9

Jahmai Jones was 13 when his father, former Detroit Lion Andre Jones, died from a brain aneurysm.

Friday night, Jahmai homered on his first pitch as a Detroit Tiger.

On a father's memory and a Detroit legacy that lives on:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 30

Merging old school grind with new ways of thinking, the Detroit Tigers are here to stay.

A 30,000-foot look at how the Tigers have combined scrappy baserunning, roster roulette, pitching prowess and daily focus to emerge as the winningest team in MLB:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 15

No longer novelties, the Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball.

Their style is different. Their player buy-in is impressive. Their record speaks for itself.

“Does it work everywhere? I have no idea. All I’m focused on is it works for us.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

No longer novelties, Tigers have best record in MLB: ‘I don’t think teams enjoy playing us’

The Tigers earned another walk-off win to complete a three-game sweep of the Red Sox on Wednesday.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 14

A Gold Glove infielder is playing CF. A player left by the wayside is hitting .319 with an .870 OPS.

In a game filled with numbers and projections, sometimes the unthinkable, the unfathomable, still happens.

On Javy Báez and the first-place Tigers:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 14

Bret Boone is a talker, verbose and gregarious.

In an unexpected mission with the Texas Rangers, his first task is perhaps the most difficult. He is sitting back, listening and learning.

On Boone and the Rangers' quest to restore their prowess:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 12

Great views and bad baseball: After a brutal start, the Colorado Rockies finally face a reckoning

www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

Great views and bad baseball: After brutal start, Colorado Rockies finally face a reckoning

The Rockies have traditionally been slow to change, even in bad times. But even this franchise, it seems, has a breaking point.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · May 1

For Kenta Maeda, an unfortunate resolution to a Tigers tenure that finally reached an impasse.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Tigers designate struggling pitcher Kenta Maeda for assignment

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 30

Before Zach McKinstry’s on-field surge, there was off-field perspective

On a house fire, the power of faith and why the Players Trust named McKinstry its first Most Valuable Philanthropist of 2025.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Before Zach McKinstry’s on-field surge, there was off-field perspective

Tuesday, the MLBPA’s Players Trust announced McKinstry as its first Most Valuable Philanthropist of 2025.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 28

Gleyber Torres' subtle leadership is a secret behind the Tigers' hot start.

The team's culture is rubbing off on Torres, too.

"I was in the dugout and I saw everybody running first to third. I didn’t do that before. It’s a brand new game for me.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

Behind the Tigers’ strong start is Gleyber Torres’ subtle leadership

When the Tigers signed Torres this winter, everyone knew they were getting a steady bat. He has helped others with their plate appearances.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 28

Loaded crossover pod here with @chandlerrome.bsky.social looking at Tigers-Astros and all their parallels

Plus bonus time from Austin Jackson talking Skubal, Baez & more.

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0ulA...

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Ck...

Crossover: Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros Preview With Crush City Territory

Podcast Episode · Tiger Territory · 04/28/2025 · 1h 28m

podcasts.apple.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 23

Pitching, baserunning, threats off the bench — the Tigers vanquish the Padres and again prove they aren’t to be taken lightly

www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

Tigers vanquish Padres and again prove they aren’t to be taken lightly

The Tigers are 15-10, pitching the lights out and overachieving offensively. No longer cute underdogs, might the Tigers be here to stay?

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 22

The Tigers have called up RHP Chase Lee in place of Keider Montero .

Lee has taken an incredible path to this day. A failed walk on. A member of Alabama’s club baseball team. An aerospace engineering major. And now a big leaguer.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/615...

Tigers’ Chase Lee and his unlikely path from failed walk-on to sidearm sensation

Before he was one step away from the majors, Chase Lee spent a year taking lessons and watching YouTube to learn how to throw sidearm.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 19

Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson are finally fulfilling their draft prophecies

"It hasn’t been an easy road for either one of them. To see them both now carry us is a great testament to what they’ve had to endure.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...

Tigers’ Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson are finally fulfilling their draft prophecies

Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson, both No. 1 overall picks with winding routes to success, are powering the Tigers through April.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 14

Javier Baez is no longer functioning as the Tigers' everyday shortstop. He is no longer the star he was paid to be.

But playing 3B and OF, chasing slightly less and seemingly bought in completely, is he finding a roadmap to viability?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

Javier Báez finds a roadmap for viability with Tigers

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 13

Last summer, as roster moves were flying, A.J. Hinch called Zach McKinstry into his office. He told the utility man not to worry. His spot was secure.

Since then? McKinstry has a 131 wRC+, playing all over and personifying why the Tigers keep winning

www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

Once worried for his roster spot, Zach McKinstry is now central to the Tigers’ mission

Zach McKinstry entered Saturday hitting .298 with a 131 wRC+ since Aug. 1 of last season.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 11

From 2012-2021, an average of 2.6 Baseball America Top 100 prospects made Opening Day rosters despite no previous MLB experience.

Under the current CBA, that number has increased to 5.8.

On the Prospect Promotion Incentive and why it's largely working

www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

'It's a benefit to the game': A rule change is bringing standout young players to MLB faster

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 7

News: Tigers AGM Sam Menzin resigned in the wake of an HR investigation related to his conduct with women in the org. The Athletic spoke with multiple women who alleged they received unsolicited, explicit photos from Menzin.

Story w/ @brittghiroli.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Tigers assistant GM resigned amid investigation into lewd photos allegedly sent to female staffers

Sam Menzin was recently under investigation for workplace misconduct and resigned before the team could terminate him, the Tigers said.

www.nytimes.com

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Apr 4

News: Tigers assistant general manager Sam Menzin has resigned from his position with the team, according to multiple sources

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Mar 31

In 2020, Jackson Jobe was trying to throw 90 mph, and Alex Marney was coaching in a barn.

Now Jobe is preparing for this first MLB start. And Marney's @PitchingWRX is a high-tech facility on the rise.

"It’s like we kind of built the facility together.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

Cody Stavenhagen @codystavenhagen.bsky.social · Mar 30

How Spencer Torkelson got his groove back:

“I’m resilient. It doesn’t matter what situation. By any means necessary, I’m gonna find a way and come through on top. I’ve proved a lot to myself in that regard. I’ve got a lot of fight in me.”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

How Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson got his groove back: ‘I’ve got a lot of fight in me’

After an impressive spring training, Torkelson went 4-for-9 with a home run and five walks in the Tigers' opening series.

www.nytimes.com