LAKELAND, Fla. >> Looking at it on paper, Wenceel Pérez’s roster fate seems like it might depend on what the Tigers want to do at other spots.

For example, if left-handed-hitting Jace Jung wins the job at third base, or a sizable share of it, then Matt Vierling might be ticketed for more outfield play, since Andy Ibañez would be the right-handed platoon with Jung at third base.

And with Parker Meadows, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter all slotted for outfield spots, Pérez could be squeezed out, especially if the club wants to keep an additional right-handed bat on the bench, say Spencer Torkelson or Justyn-Henry Malloy.

Manager AJ Hinch, for the record, isn’t buying the notion of any player not being in control of his fate.

“I think everybody is in control of their roster spot,” he said. “It’s just the preparation and the play. Guys play their way onto the team. We don’t have a preset expectation on these guys. We can build the roster a lot of different ways.

“The best way for him to break with us is to be able to move around the outfield and put up good at-bats.”

That’s what Pérez did last year, turning what was expected to be a short-stint injury replacement into a vital 112-game rookie season.

“Last year doesn’t happen without his contributions,” Hinch said. “And a lot of that was at a new position at the highest level. Pretty impressive.”

It was right about this time last year when Hinch pulled Pérez into his office and told him that he could store his infielder glove. He was going to be playing outfield from this day forward. For Pérez, who was battling a mental block on the shorter infield throws, it was like having a massive weight lifted off his shoulders.

“He played with a lot of freedom when we put him out there,” Hinch said. “He adapted well. He’s a good athlete. And he’s going to play center field some, too; that’s still very important for him. But what I’ve learned about Wenceel is he can handle it.

“The at-bat quality is really good. The feel for the outfield is better than I think any of us expected. And he’s continuing to get better.”

He rode the normal ups-and-downs young players ride, but he finished with a .242 average with nine home runs and 37 RBI. He also got five hits in the postseason.

“Everything was unbelievable,” Pérez said. “I came up as a rookie, made my debut — I didn’t think it was going to be like that. They gave me the confidence to play every day and my confidence got real high. And getting to the playoffs, that was the best part. Now we have to find out how to do it again.”

One of the oddities with Pérez is, as a switch-hitter, his offensive production is worse from his natural side, his right-handed side. You could argue, given that the Tigers are a left-handed-heavy offensive team, Pérez would have an easier path to making the roster if he were a better right-handed hitter.

In just 98 plate appearances hitting right-handed against lefties last year, Perez slashed .209/.292/.302. From the left side, against righties, he slashed .251/.303/.406 with eight of his nine homers.

“I started hitting lefty when I was too young,” Pérez said. “I feel more comfortable from the left side because I face a lot more righties than lefties. It’s all about feeling and rhythm.”

Hinch said it’s a confidence thing, as well. Pérez is more confident from the left side, more patient, with better zone control. From the right side, he is more in swing mode, which leads to chasing pitches out of the zone.

“For him to fit on this team, the right-hand side of his profile has to be there,” Hinch said. “His feel for running the bases will get a lot better. His feel for all three outfield positions will be important. He really competes in the box and he’s built a good foundation that he belongs in the big leagues.

“He can hit right-handed. It’s just reps and getting more comfortable.”

Former Tigers prospect Gage Workman, now trying to make the Cubs roster as a Rule 5 draftee, made the move a couple of years ago to stop hitting right-handed and just bat lefty all the time. Pérez doesn’t see such a move in his future.

“I don’t think that ever comes to my mind,” he said. “My right side is good enough. I can’t see me facing lefty-lefty after hitting all my life right-handed. I can’t see that. I would take the challenge if I had to do it. But that’s not in my mind.”

What is in his mind, as always, is being the best version of himself on the field and competing every day.

“Every year you come here, you have to come with that mindset,” he said. “For me, I have to earn my spot. I just have to come here and give my best every day.”