- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,171,279
- Reaction score
- 59
Minneapolis — Sawyer Gipson-Long, at last, is off the medical report and back in the competition.
The Tigers on Monday activated the 28-year-old right-hander off the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo where he is expected to work his way into the Mud Hens’ rotation.
Gipson-Long, whom the Tigers acquired from the Twins for Michael Fulmer on Aug. 2, 2022, was unable to compete this spring because of a left oblique strain. He made a strong four-start debut with the Tigers at the end of the 2023 season, posting a 2.70 ERA with 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 20 innings.
But he’s labored through an assortment of injuries since, including Tommy John surgery and hip surgery that cost him all of 2024 and most of last season.
He threw 39 pitches (25 strikes) in a 1.2-inning rehab stint at Low-A Lakeland. The Lakeland defenders made a couple of errors behind him which led to four unearned runs and padded his pitch count. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
One of manager AJ Hinch’s hardest conversations this spring was the morning he told outfielder Wenceel Perez that he’d be starting the season at Triple-A Toledo.
“Wenceel is a good player,” Hinch said last month. “He’s one of my favorites because he’s such a good versatile player. His energy is through the roof and the switch-hitting component.”
But Perez had struggled in spring, chasing pitches out of the strike zone. Hinch said he needed to go down and regain control of the zone. Perez responded to that meeting by swatting two home runs in the final exhibition game.
“I should’ve told him two weeks earlier,” Hinch joked. “He’s going to be help us at some point this season.”
Perez is off to a scorching hot start. In eight games, he’s 10 for 34 with three doubles, two homers, two stolen bases and nine runs scored. As for controlling the zone? He’s drawn seven walks with just four strikeouts.
… Outfielder Max Clark is also sizzling. He’s 11 for 30 with six doubles, seven runs scored and three stolen bases.
… On the pitching side, three relievers who were in the final batch of cuts this spring are missing bats early. Lefty Drew Sommers has nine strikeouts in four innings, righty Ricky Vanasco has nine in five innings and Burch Smith has eight in 4.2 innings.
[email protected]
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long off IL; Wenceel Perez sizzling
Continue reading...
The Tigers on Monday activated the 28-year-old right-hander off the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo where he is expected to work his way into the Mud Hens’ rotation.
You must be registered for see images attach
Gipson-Long, whom the Tigers acquired from the Twins for Michael Fulmer on Aug. 2, 2022, was unable to compete this spring because of a left oblique strain. He made a strong four-start debut with the Tigers at the end of the 2023 season, posting a 2.70 ERA with 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 20 innings.
But he’s labored through an assortment of injuries since, including Tommy John surgery and hip surgery that cost him all of 2024 and most of last season.
He threw 39 pitches (25 strikes) in a 1.2-inning rehab stint at Low-A Lakeland. The Lakeland defenders made a couple of errors behind him which led to four unearned runs and padded his pitch count. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
Triple-A report
One of manager AJ Hinch’s hardest conversations this spring was the morning he told outfielder Wenceel Perez that he’d be starting the season at Triple-A Toledo.
“Wenceel is a good player,” Hinch said last month. “He’s one of my favorites because he’s such a good versatile player. His energy is through the roof and the switch-hitting component.”
But Perez had struggled in spring, chasing pitches out of the strike zone. Hinch said he needed to go down and regain control of the zone. Perez responded to that meeting by swatting two home runs in the final exhibition game.
“I should’ve told him two weeks earlier,” Hinch joked. “He’s going to be help us at some point this season.”
Perez is off to a scorching hot start. In eight games, he’s 10 for 34 with three doubles, two homers, two stolen bases and nine runs scored. As for controlling the zone? He’s drawn seven walks with just four strikeouts.
… Outfielder Max Clark is also sizzling. He’s 11 for 30 with six doubles, seven runs scored and three stolen bases.
… On the pitching side, three relievers who were in the final batch of cuts this spring are missing bats early. Lefty Drew Sommers has nine strikeouts in four innings, righty Ricky Vanasco has nine in five innings and Burch Smith has eight in 4.2 innings.
[email protected]
@cmccosky
You must be registered for see images attach
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long off IL; Wenceel Perez sizzling
Continue reading...
