Tigers’ Top Prospect Liranzo Hits 417-Foot Home Run in Spring Training Debut
Thayron Liranzo, the Detroit Tigers’ top catching prospect, celebrated his first spring training home run on Sunday, March 2. Liranzo hit an impressive 417-foot shot to the tiki bar at the top of the right-center-field deck at LECOM Park. His swing, all 105.7 mph of it, left even Liranzo doubting his own power.
In a statement for MLB.com, Liranzo said, “At the beginning, I was a little bit doubtful. I hit it with the barrel. I hit it with my arms extended, but I did not hit it with my full power. But as soon as I saw the ball flying over the center fielder, I knew it was gone.”
Upon rounding the bases, Liranzo realized what he had just accomplished. “I got back to the dugout and just had a couple minutes to think, ‘Dude, I just hit a home run in the Major Leagues,’” Liranzo said. “It was exciting, it was fun, and I’m thankful to God for giving me this opportunity.”
This accomplishment reflected Liranzo’s hitting talents in the Arizona Fall League. Half of his 18 hits in 15 games went for extra bases, two of which were home runs.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that while the home run itself was impressive, Liranzo’s approach pleased him the most. “I’m more impressed by [Liranzo] having a plan and going up there and executing it than I care about whether [it’s] a homer or a double or a single,” Hinch told MLB.com. “But it was pretty impressive to go on top of the building in right-center.”
Liranzo acknowledged the support of Tigers’ catchers Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler, who helped him during spring training camp, in addition to Wenceel Pérez and Eddys Leonard.
