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Mark Bechtel

March 29, 1999

When asked this spring to cite a weakness in 23-year-old outfielder Juan Encarnacion, Tigers manager Larry Parrish seemed stumped. "Uh, I guess he didn't show a lot of glaring weaknesses," Parrish said. Indeed he didn't. Encarnacion, who hit well in his 40-game stint last year, is a bona fide five-tool player. If he has a shortcoming, if might be a short fuse. In a Triple A game last June, Encarnacion charged the mound after being plunked by a pitch and tried to Tae-Bo the pitcher. He was suspended for 10 games. Confident that he'll keep his cool this season, the Tigers will start him in their outfield, either in right, with Bobby Higginson moving to left, or in left.