ARLINGTON, Texas — The Detroit Tigers recalled infielder Tyler Nevin, a right-handed hitter, from Triple-A Toledo for the third time this season ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
Matchups played a role in the decision to promote a righty from the Mud Hens.
“Quite a bit,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said.
The Rangers have left-handed starters for Monday and Tuesday, plus four left-handed relievers in the bullpen.
“We’re going to get two, maybe three, starting left-handed pitchers here,” Hinch continued. “We’re going to get one (lefty starter) in Colorado, and then we get to the off day on Monday. I think that was definitely in his favor.”
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The Tigers, though, find themselves short on left-handed hitters until outfielders Akil Baddoo and Riley Greene return from the injured list. Promoting one of their prospects — namely left-handed hitting outfielder Parker Meadows — would have brought balance to the lineup.
“It’s tough,” Hinch said. “We only have two left-handed hitters now. We certainly have an imbalance of that, but this week, I think it makes a ton of sense to have as many right-handed options as possible.”
Baddoo and Greene could start rehab assignments in Triple-A Toledo this weekend, but they won’t play for the Tigers during the seven-game road trip against the Rangers and Colorado Rockies.
Both players are doing baseball activities every day.
“(Greene) and Baddoo hit early today,” Hinch said. “They’ll hit again early tomorrow and probably hit again Wednesday early before we decide what’s next. They may not be on this road trip for the entirety of the trip.”
HE’S DOWN: Tigers option Nick Maton to Triple-A Toledo because ‘adjustments need to be made’
For at least the next seven games, the Tigers will operate with two left-handed hitters on the roster: Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry. The Tigers demoted infielder Nick Maton, another lefty, to Triple-A Toledo after Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.
Maton hit .163 with a .576 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 72 games.
Once that happened, Nevin was scratched from the Triple-A Toledo starting lineup. He needed to pack his bags to join the Tigers.
“I have to force the opportunity,” Nevin said. “I have to play better. I have to have a moment. I have to show some reason to keep putting me in the lineup. That’s really what it comes down to. I feel like I’m that moment away. … It’s part of the process, and that’s all I’m looking for right now.”
The 26-year-old has hit .128 with one home run, three walks and 10 strikeouts across 16 games for the Tigers this season, spanning two stints. He has a .188 batting average, but only a 10.2% whiff rate, on pitches inside the strike zone.
The Tigers had Nevin on the active roster from April 12-30 and May 30-June 9.
Hinch said the quality of Nevin’s plate appearances were “hit or miss, and so was his opportunity.” He started 11 of his 16 games in the first two stints and didn’t get the chance to start back-to-back games in the second stint.
“I feel like I’m right there,” Nevin said. “I’ve had really good at-bats against top arms, facing those guys in Philly with (Zack) Wheeler and (Craig) Kimbrel, and then going back to how I felt about (Emmanuel) Clase earlier in the year. Nothing to show for it, but that’s just part of it. I’m looking to break through.”
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In Triple-A Toledo, Nevin hit .304 with three home runs, 14 walks and 34 strikeouts in 44 games. He is capable of playing three other positions in addition to third base: first base, left field and right field.
Nevin has a .190 batting average through 80 games in his MLB career. He also played six games in 2021 and 58 games in 2022 with the Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers acquired him from the Orioles in an offseason trade, giving up cash considerations.
“He’s never really been given every day at-bats to see him settle in,” Hinch said. “When he can control the strike zone, he can do some damage. We know the good in him. He’s got to be ready to contribute tonight.”
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers recall Tyler Nevin to take Nick Maton’s roster spot