Apr. 17: Castro is indeed the replacement, as the Tigers announced today that he has been recalled.
Apr. 16: The Tigers have placed shortstop Javier Baez on the 10-day injured list due to right thumb soreness. The placement is retroactive to April 13. The Tigers will play a man short in today’s game with the Royals, and add a new player to the active roster before tomorrow’s contest. Willi Castro looks like he’ll be the replacement, as the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens announced that Castro was scratched from today’s lineup.
Baez has missed four games with this nagging thumb problem, and twice between scratched from the starting lineup. This would seemingly indicate that the injury isn’t too severe, and while x-rays were negative, the issue ultimately proved bothersome enough for the team to just put Baez on the IL. Between the retroactive placement and Monday’s off-day on Detroit’s schedule, Baez is eligible to return during the Tigers’ series with the Rockies next weekend.
After signing a six-year, $140MM deal during the offseason, Baez has gotten off to a good start in Motown, hitting .316/.350/.526 in his first 20 plate appearances as a Tiger. Harold Castro has been filling in at shortstop in Baez’s absence, and will likely continue to get the bulk of the work, though the switch-hitting Willi Castro will also get some action after his probable call-up.
bigfoot675
Send Kreidler
Airo13
Probably dont want to add him to the 40-man for a short stint.
bigfoot675
Good point, didn’t consider that
Fever Pitch Guy
I was gonna say the same thing.
So let’s see …
Semien has a .379 OPS
Correa has a .689 OPS
Story has a .572 OPS
And Baez is on the IL
Not a good start for 4 of the 5 big middle infielder free agent signings.
PutPeteinthehall
Chronic problem. Has had for awhile. Injured when played in Chicago.
AzTigersfan
It happened during the celebration after the walk off of the first game
not alkaline
Celebration!! Wow. Don’t know what to say.
Mystery Team
Thumb soreness is the number one killer of men ages 25-35.
savage 2
And callus on the other 4 fingers!
THE downvoter
And covid!!!!
tigerdoc616
I generally like Willi Castro, but Harold Castro is really not a SS. Tigers should bring up Zac Short. At least he can play SS defensively. Don’t make our pitchers suffer with the Castro’s playing SS for the next week.
luvbeisbol
Short cannot make contact at the plate. Not a major league baseball player.
stymeedone
Short can play defense, which is the only consideration when needing a short term replacement at SS.
GarryHarris
I like Zack Short. He’s a high range defender so I think he’s better for the Pitcher-First type of team DET is trying to create. At this point, offense is a distant secondary consideration. He can work on it at the MLB level. Ozzie was a pathetic hitter when he first arrived.
Will Castro is a DH.
moteus
Anybody remember Eddie Brinkman? Dude couldn’t hit, but was seriously stellar with the glove!!
Cosmo2
Wow, that guy was a baaaaad hitter. I mean, his worst year in the majors was still statistically better than my best in little league, but I’m just saying
moteus
Hah!! Same with me, brother. Was a hell of an outfielder,, but couldn ‘t hit my weight, and I’m quite sure back then I barely weighed 65 lbs. Ouch!! Oh well, eh?
ThonolansGhost
The Tigers were riddled with injuries last year, but this year is just as bad if not worse. I wonder who’ll be next on the injured list.
AzTigersfan
Please don’t ask we’ll find out soon enough
ThonolansGhost
Oh hell, Manning just got pulled from today’s game after two innings. I hope he’s not hurt. This is getting rediculous.
For Love of the Game
“Right shoulder discomfort.” Ruh-roh. And he has been looking great. Better stretch out both Pineda and Peralta.
panic in detroit
I wasn’t a fan of the Peralta and Pinada signing. However, it looks good at the moment. I guess that is why I am watching the game from the couch and Al Avila is watching from the Tigers luxury box
For Love of the Game
You need at least seven starters these days given all the injuries in the game. Can’t have seven studs with two pitching relief or in the minors – studley starting pitchers aren’t going to put up with that. You need the Hutchinson-Peralta-Pineda guys to wait in the wings, guys that don’t have alternatives.
panic in detroit
I will be glad to see Alexander get a better shot at a rotation spot….also, Zac Short is not on the 40 man roster. I don’t expect to see him back. He faltered badly last year at the end of his last stint . Both at bat and in the field.
ThonolansGhost
Actually, Short IS on the 40 man roster.
panic in detroit
In the next week, Cabrera will have 3000 hits and 600 doubles . Combine that with .300 career Ave , 500 HR , 1800 RBI . Tell the only other man to do that in Baseball history?
Cosmo2
First thought: Willie Mays. Turns out, he hit “only” 525 doubles.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
Hammering Hank.
You Can Put It In The Books
Not sure, but I bet the other guy didn’t drink and belligerently beat his wife.
stymeedone
Odds of a baseball player not drinking is pretty low, and before the 1980’s there was no negative press on sports heroes. Miggy no longer drinks. Hope you receive the forgiveness that you give to others.
motor city pride
Classy comment^
You Can Put It In The Books
*drink belligerently and beat his wife
Assdribble_Cabrera
Not a classy comment ^
dadofdonnydownvote
Google Miguel Cabrera and Belkis Rodriguez.
BobGibsonFan
Barry Bonds? Did he have 600 doubles?
panic in detroit
Hank Aaron is the only other one…many others came close but dropped under .300 in the last year or so of their career.Cabrera has a .310 and it would be mathematically difficult to do by 2023 or even 2024
Motown is My Town
Kreidler should have been the call up regardless of being on the 40 man roster or not. It’s frustrating the Tigers don’t have a true backup shortstop as neither Castro fits the bill. I realize Baez will only be out a week, but winning games in April is as important as wining games in September so I don’t understand why we’re not willing to field our best team as Kreidler is the way better SS to put out there now. I like Avila but he crapped the bed on this move.
warnbeeb
Hopefully Baez didn’t injure the ulner collateral thumb ligament. It can be played through for awhile but usually needs surgery
stymeedone
Are you suggesting he will need Tommy John surgery for the Thumb? I think that involves a transplant of the big toe ligament.
BobGibsonFan
Tommy John of the thumb… he comes back with a stronger thumb than before.
warnbeeb
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_collateral_ligament_in…
warnbeeb
Yes. I had the surgery 20 years ago. The surgery is a little different from the elbow procedure.
Perksy
With the rainout today why doesn’t Detroit and KC play tomorrow since both are off?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Javy Baez is all thumbs.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Under My Thumb