Valencia homers again on Thursday

Valencia put the Tigers on the board with a single in the first inning to drive in a run. He then led off the fourth inning with a solo homer off Anthony Kay. The home run was his sixth of the season while hitting .404/.426/.865 across just 54 plate appearances, though he’s been mostly limited to a short-side platoon.

Valencia was right in the middle of the action as the Tigers plated four runs in the fourth inning and four runs in the eighth. The 26-year-old has done nothing but hit when called upon this season, as he now owns a ridiculous .452/.469/.935 batting line through 32 plate appearances. He deserves more opportunities down the stretch for Detroit.

Oh, so that’s why Detroit DFA’d Jake Rogers. The Tigers started both of their catchers tonight, with Dillon Dingler serving as a DH, and Valencia, who was recalled Monday, hit his third and fourth homers in just seven games (four starts) as a major leaguer. True, the second one tonight was hit off Chadwick Tromp, but this still an awfully impressive start. He’s the first player to have four hits and two homers in one of his first seven career games since Jose Siri in 2021 and second since Danny Espinosa in 2010.

The Tigers needed a spot on the active roster to activate Javier Baez from the 60-day IL, so Rogers was let go. The Tigers will go forward with Eduardo Valencia as their backup catcher.

Valencia comes back up to join Detroit’s bench for Monday’s series opener against the Orioles with Kerry Carpenter hitting the shelf with plantar fasciitis. The 26-year-old rookie hit .417 (5-for-12) with two homers and three RBI during six games with the Tigers earlier this month.

Valencia heads back to the minors to make room for Gleyber Torres on Detroit’s active roster ahead of Monday’s contest against Chicago. The 26-year-old backstop hit .417 (5-for-12) with two homers and three RBI during six games with the Tigers in his first taste of the majors. He’ll be back at some point later this year.

Valencia’s home run was his second in three career games so far. He hit a solo shot off Cristopher Sanchez in the fifth inning. Valencia is 5-for-9 with two home runs and three RBI in three games to begin his career. Saturday was his first MLB start at catcher with Dillon Dingler returning from a hand injury as the DH. Once Dingler is back behind the dish, Valencia should still see plenty of at-bats against left-handed pitching as the DH.

Valencia entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning. After ripping a pitch down the line that just missed being a double, he clobbered a 2-1 fastball from Hogan Harris for a 425-foot (103.4-mph EV) solo shot to center that increased the Tigers’ lead to 4-1. The 26-year-old backstop was then plunked in the back in the eighth inning. He’ll continue to add depth behind the plate for the Tigers until Dillon Dingler (hand) is ready to return.

The 26-year-old has hit .267/.353/.486 this season for the Mud Hens. It’s possible he plays some catcher in the short term while the team deals with Dillon Dingler’s hand injury.