LAKELAND, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers outfielder Brent Clevlen is staying on the ball as a hitter, and staying in the hunt for the only position player roster spot available.
Clevlen, 25, is a five-tool player who has had one major problem in sticking in the majors. He has whiffed too much, striking out 30 times in 73 at-bats during three brief trials with the Tigers. He struck out 166 times in 476 at-bats last year at Toledo, where he hit .279 with 22 homers and 82 RBIs in making the International League All-Star team. But Clevlen is making much better contact this spring.
He crushed a 400-foot homer to left-center off St. Louis Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer in Monday's 7-6 win. But just as impressive, in terms of hitting approach progress, was a full-count pitch on the outside corner that he lined at first baseman Albert Pujols. It was an out, but also was a case of putting into practice a significant offseason adjustment.
"I needed to shorten my swing up a bit, especially with two strikes, and stay on balls," Clevlen said. "You can't try to do too much."
He said Toledo manager Larry Parrish stressed an approach to improve making contact, while becoming better able to handle inside and outside pitches. Clevlen took those principles to winter ball in the Dominican Republic and began getting results.
"He is staying on the ball as well I've seen him do," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Clevlen, getting regular starts in center field with Curtis Granderson on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, has four strikeouts in 32 at-bats. He is hitting .250 with four RBIs in Grapefruit League games, and also hit .429 with four RBIs in exhibitions against Venezuela's and Panama's WBC teams.
"He certainly is having a good spring," Leyland said. "He looks like an improved hitter."
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