CHICAGO — Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows ripped a traditional double in the top of the first inning in Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, but in the second inning, he weaponized his speed on the bases to turn what should've been a ground-ball single into a double.

"Every time, I'm always thinking two out of the box," Meadows said.

Expect to see Meadows — a left-handed hitter who also provides elite defense in center field — working from the leadoff spot for the remainder of the 2024 season, specifically against right-handed pitching.

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"He's just been in complete control of his at-bats, and he's a difference-maker on the bases," manager A.J. Hinch said. "We flirted with that early the year. When he's getting on base, controlling his at-bats and running the bases aggressively, he's perfect for the top of the order. He's earned the right to get another look at the top of the order."

The two doubles in Wednesday's 8-2 win only begin to explain why the Tigers moved Meadows atop the order again. He also draws walks at an above-average rate, steals bases with top-tier sprint speed and continues to collect hits following an adjustment to unlock an efficient swing path.

Meadows could be the primary leadoff hitter in 2025.

"It feels good," Meadows said. "Obviously, I'm just trying to do whatever I can to get on base early in the game and set the tone. Recently, I've felt confident in the leadoff spot. I got to continue to keep it rolling."

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The Tigers tried Meadows out in the leadoff spot in the first two weeks of the 2024 campaign, but the 24-year-old quickly dropped to the bottom of the lineup because of his struggles on offense.

By early May, those struggles resulted in a demotion to Triple-A Toledo.

With the Mud Hens, Meadows made a swing adjustment — focusing on the movement of his hands — to scrap an uphill swing in favor of staying down and direct to the ball. He has mental cues to make sure he sticks to the optimal swing path.

"For me, it's just keep it as simple as possible," Meadows said. "Try to be as still as I can in the box, mentally"

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Meadows is hitting .354 (23-for-65) with 10 extra-base hits, three walks and 13 strikeouts in 17 games since the Tigers called him back up from Toledo.

He has been in the leadoff spot in each of his past four games, a stretch in which the Tigers have gone 3-1.

"He's awesome," said outfielder Kerry Carpenter, a slugger in the middle of the lineup. "He'll stretch singles into doubles. He puts the ball in play a lot. He can hit anything. He can hit your fastest heater, and he can hit your slowest off-speed. He puts together great at-bats every time up there. I feel like I'm hitting with runners in scoring position all of the time when Parker is in front of me, same with Riley (Greene)."

The Tigers have a 31-18 record in the 49 games that Meadows has played in his second MLB season, along with a 13-4 record in his 17 games played since his return from Triple-A Toledo.

Meadows is a winning player.

And he seems like the perfect leadoff hitter for the future.

"His knowledge of the strike zone is really good," Hinch said, "and when he's patient enough not having to only hit early the count, when he can execute a game plan with the array of pitches that are being thrown at him, that's a good sign. ... Slight mechanical adjustment he made in the minor leagues combined with a very efficient approach. We're seeing the results."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lock in Parker Meadows at top of batting order