Detroit Tigers: Victor Martinez to disabled list, John Hicks recalled

Detroit Tigers fans will see a team without Victor Martinez for the near future. The team announced in a tweet on Friday afternoon that the veteran is on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat.

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez will be out of the lineup in the short term.

The veteran, who is hitting .261 with a .337 on-base percentage, a .376 slugging percentage and a .311 wOBA in 246 plate appearances this season, is heading to the disabled list.

Detroit announced the move in a tweet on the team’s official Twitter account on Friday.

The Tigers’ official Twitter account tweeted the following:

“The #Tigers have placed DH Victor Martinez on the 10-day DL with an irregular heartbeat and recalled C/1B John Hicks from Triple-A Toledo.”

Martinez has played in 60 games so far this season for the Tigers. Due to injuries and inconsistency, only Justin Upton (62 games) and Nicholas Castellanos (63) have appeared in more contests.

The veteran designated hitter also contributed a -0.5 WAR, a 91 wRC+ and a .115 ISO.

His walk percentage currently sits at 9.3, while his strikeout percentage is 13.4.

Additionally Martinez has hit five home runs to go along with 29 RBI, 23 walks, 21 runs scored and 10 doubles.

More on John Hicks

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In his place, John Hicks will return to the roster.

The 27-year-old, who has played first base and catcher this season for Detroit, owns a tidy 0.4 WAR in just 14 games played.

In said 14 games, Hicks is batting .306 with a .320 on-base percentage, a .571 slugging percentage and a .891 OPS.

He’s accumulated 15 hits, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, a walk and a stolen base despite logging just 50 plate appearances.

Hicks gives Detroit another option at first base if the team opts to rest Miguel Cabrera more with the designated hitter position open for the time being.

The backstop’s arrival also provides manager Brad Ausmus with an additional pinch-hitting option to utilize late in games.

Until Friday, the team was relying on a combination of Mikie Mahtook, Dixon Machado, James McCann and Andrew Romine.

Mahtook has played better as of late, but none of the aforementioned four are perfect pinch-hitting candidates.

Machado doesn’t have much power. McCann, who does have some power (seven home runs, .208 ISO in 137 plate appearances), has just a .192 batting average and 12 hits that haven’t gone for extra bases.

Next: The importance of Nicholas Castellanos

Rounding out the list is Romine, who is better suited as a pinch-runner, or a defensive substitute late in the proceedings.