Tigers' Slugger Has Quietly Emerged as Team's Most Important Hitter

The Detroit Tigers have emerged as legit World Series contenders, and this slugger has played a key role in the team's success.

Jun 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter (30) smiles after team's win against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers have evolved into one of the few truly elite ball clubs in baseball this season, a fact that is best epitomized by the team's 40-22 record. The Tigers are the first, and so far only, team to reach the 40-win mark in 2025, and they don't appear to be slowing down.

Much of this early success has been driven by Detroit's lethal offense, an attack that ranks top 10 in the entire MLB in just about every major statistic. The driving force behind their offense has been a core of lethal sluggers.

Among this group is a guy who has quietly become one of the best sluggers in the game, and that man is none other than right fielder Kerry Carpenter.

The now 27-year-old had been a solid player in his first three seasons at the MLB level, but he's elevated his game to a whole new level in 2025.

As of this writing, Carpenter is slashing .273/.302/.512 on the season, and his elite power at the dish has become his calling card. He's already smashed 13 long balls in 2025 and is coming off a three-homer performance on Monday against the Chicago White Sox.

THREE HOME RUNS FOR KERRY CARPENTER

HAVE A NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/BUyZ1RV7Of

— MLB (@MLB) June 3, 2025

This performance made Carpenter the first Detroit player in almost a decade to put three balls over the wall in a single game, and it also further demonstrated just how deadly he's become at the plate.

Players like former top draft picks Spencer Torkelson and Riley Green have naturally gotten a ton of buzz for their great production this year, but that shouldn't overshadow the phenomenal season that Carpenter is putting together.

There's a strong argument to be made that he has been the most crucial part of the Tigers' lineup, and it's been his production in the middle of the lineup that has been the lynchpin of the team's success as a whole.

With Carpenter in the cleanup spot, Detroit has blossomed into a true World Series contender, and he's also become the hitter they can rely upon to come through when it matters most.

The spotlight certainly suits him though, and as such he'll continue to be the guy manager A.J. Hinch calls on down the stretch as the team chases it's first AL Pennant since 2012.