Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians' Young Rosters Combined to Make History in ALDS

The average age of the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians players that appeared in Game 1 of the ALDS was just 26.4 years, which hadn't been seen since the 1914 World Series.

Oct 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) turns a double play over Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) in the fourth inning in game one of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. / David Richard-Imagn Images

The amount of young talent that the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians brought into their ALDS matchup was already record-breaking, but the way the two teams utilized their bright-eyed rosters on Saturday made even more history.

Cleveland used three rookie position players in Game 1 – 23-year-olds Jhonkensy Noel and Brayan Rocchio, plus 24-year-old rookie Kyle Manzardo. Lights-out setup man Cade Smith is a rookie as well, while second-year relievers Tim Herrin and Hunter Gladdis also took the mound in the eventual 7-0 win.

Detroit started 23-year-old rookie Colt Keith at second base and 24-year-old rookie Trey Sweeney at shortstop, in addition to using 24-year-old rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy as a pinch-hitter and immediately replacing him with 24-year-old rookie Wenceel Pérez. Three of their four relievers were 25 years old or younger, too.

Altogether, the players who appeared in Game 1 of the ALDS between the Tigers and Guardians on Saturday had a combined average age of 26.4 years old.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, that is the youngest combined average age in any MLB postseason game since Game 4 of the 1914 World Series between the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Athletics.

The combined average age of the Tigers and Guardians who appeared in Saturday’s Game 1 was only 26.4 years – the youngest for any MLB postseason game since Game 4 of the 1914 World Series between the A’s and Braves

h/t @MLBNetwork research squad

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 7, 2024

The average age of the Guardians' roster actually went down between Game 1 and Game 2, as 22-year-old utility man Angel Martínez was brought in as an injury replacement for 25-year-old utility man Tyler Freeman.

Martínez is not in Cleveland's starting lineup, though, so it remains to be seen if the rookie will get any at-bats or time in the field on Monday. Detroit is starting Malloy as their leadoff man and designated hitter, but Keith has been moved to the bench.

Game 2 is scheduled to get underway at 4:08 p.m. ET.

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