The Tigers announced yesterday that infielder Ryan Kreidler underwent surgery for a fractured right index finger on April 11. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press was among those to relay the news (X link). The club didn’t announce when they expect Kreidler to return to action but it seems fair to expect an absence of at least a few more weeks. He is on the club’s 40-man roster but didn’t break camp with the Tigers and was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to start the year, having now been put on the minor league injured list.
The Tigers are currently operating with diminished infield depth at the major league level, since both Gio Urshela and Andy Ibáñez have landed on the IL this month, each due to a strained hamstring. Matt Vierling has taken over the everyday third base job from Urshela of late, while Buddy Kennedy has taken over for Ibáñez, serving as a bench infielder alongside Zach McKinstry.
Kreidler, 26, could have been in the mix for such a gig were it not for this injury. He has taken 102 plate appearances for the Tigers over the previous two seasons, though he’s hit just .165/.220/.209 in his major league career thus far. He’s naturally performed better in the minors, with a line of .241/.340/.417 across different levels in his career.
He has played the three infield positions to the left of first base as well as some center field, which could make him a valuable utility piece if he could bring a bit more offense up to the majors. Baseball America ranked him as one of the club’s top ten prospects going into 2022 and 2023.
Staying on the field has been an issue for Kreidler in recent years. He suffered a right hand fracture in April of 2022 and was limited to 86 games that year, 60 in the minors and 26 in the majors. Last year, he required core muscle surgery and got into 74 games, 11 in the majors.
He is now once again on the shelf and looking at a stretch of missed time. After a handful of injury setbacks in recent years, he and the Tigers will naturally be hoping that he can quickly get over this issue and get some regular reps this year. He is optionable for the rest of this year and will still have one option year left going forward.
It’s ok. Baez is having one of the best defensive seasons of all time
His baserunning has been great too and is a big reason we’ve won 14 games.
When Ibanez is ready to return from the IL it’s time to end the Colt Keith MLB experiment and send him to Toledo for more seasoning. Keith is just not ready yet to face MLB pitching
I think he has a little more time before that happens. Colt has gotten off to a slow start at every level and eventually something clicks and he starts mashing. I think they were prepared for a slow start and feel it’s only a matter of time. He definitely has plate discipline- his timing is just a little off. Parker Meadows is a different story.
Buddy Kennedy, and wenceel Perez have both earned more playing time. They have brought up a spark from the farm. Those two are putting pressure on some guys like Vierling and Mckinstry., and others.
Perez needs to be in the lineup more as his speed is real, and Kennedy has some good pop, and can play a good enough third base. Those two have really light a fire under the team with their impressive play.
Harris doesn’t have the Tigers playing to contend. He has them playing to get experience. Keith and Meadows are here to stay.
Stupid STYMEEDONE is at it again! Stop it with your Harris derangement syndrome! Meadows will be optioned soon. Keith gets off to slow starts at every level. If you were baseball smart, you’d understand that, but your hate for Scott has clouded your judgement and with each comment you make , it proves my point.
Hopefully Kreidler gets some at bats this year to show whether he is a viable backup. His time seems to be running out and there are lots of other options competing for those backup spots…McKinistry, Vierling and Ibanez, Kennedy, Leonard and maybe Jung eventually.
Unfortunate for Ryan but he has a penchant for getting hurt. Big reason why he did not go north with the team. Decent spring but he never showed much when he did get his chance and never seems to be able to stay healthy.
Index?
I thought it would have been the middle, after having such a good Spring.