SI

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter Was Wearing a Microphone for One of the Best Swings of His Life

The outfielder launched a tape-measure shot and provided excellent live audio.

Kyle Koster

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Ballys Sports Detroit planned to put a microphone on Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling during Wednesday afternoon's game against the Texas Rangers but pivoted after manager A.J. Hinch gave him a day off. They pivoted and decided to strap one on Kerry Carpenter instead, which provided to be a wise decision as the cleanup hitter launched a game-tying home run deep into the right-field bleachers.

As for what that sounded like, well, there was some significant volume.

Carpenter broke down the moment with his teammates in the dugout by saying frick, which you don't hear too much anymore, and suggesting that it may have been the best swing of his life.

With a traveling distance of 426 feet and an exit of velocity of 108.3 mph, the ball certainly complied.

The 26-year-old is off to a hot start in 2024, entering today's game slashing .302/.558/.920 with two home runs. Unfortunately for him, none of the other Tigers have sone anything at the plate through the first five innings — presumably because no one else is mic'd up.

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Kyle Koster
KYLE KOSTER

Kyle Koster is an assistant managing editor at Sports Illustrated covering the intersection of sports and media. He was formerly the editor in chief of The Big Lead, where he worked from 2011 to '24. Koster also did turns at the Chicago Sun-Times, where he created the Sports Pros(e) blog, and at Woven Digital.

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