Detroit Tigers: Starting in 2018, perhaps a bit sooner, bullpen will get younger
Detroit Tigers fans could see a number of young relievers debut with the team in the near future. Moving forward, the Tigers should have a young relief corps.
Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen the best bullpen units in years past.
The 2015 unit ranked 27th in WAR and last in xFIP. Meanwhile, the 2014 unit checked in at 28th in WAR and 26th in xFIP.
Last season saw a significant improvement, as Detroit’s relievers finished 12th in WAR and 14th in xFIP.
However, the 2017 campaign has seen the team revert back to the bottom of the totem pole in terms of bullpen stats.
Tigers relievers are last in the league in WAR and xFIP this season.
This is somewhat due to the struggles of a handful of players.
Shane Greene, Alex Wilson, Daniel Stumpf and—when he was in Detroit—Justin Wilson have all been dependable.
The Tigers have also gotten some encouraging work from Bruce Rondon (13.50 strikeouts per nine innings, 2.87 FIP, 3.44 xFIP) despite a 10.43 ERA.
However, elsewhere, a number of veterans have struggled mightily.
Francisco Rodriguez hemorrhaged runs and base runners alike in his 25.1 innings with the Tigers, pitching to a 7.82 ERA, a 7.36 FIP and a 5.70 xFIP while surrendering 2.91 walks and 3.20 home runs per nine frames.
There was also the failed Anibal Sanchez bullpen experiment that saw the veteran notch a 7.90 FIP in 21 innings.
Like Rodriguez, his rates for walks and home runs allowed per nine innings (3.86 in both instances) sat comfortably over 3.00.
In addition to Rodriguez and Sanchez, veterans like Blaine Hardy (5.98 xFIP in 19.1 innings) and William Cuevas (four runs, three hits and a hit batter in a third of an inning) also struggled in limited action.
Veterans
Detroit’s usage of veteran relievers has been hit and miss in the past.
For every Justin Wilson, Joaquin Benoit or Francisco Rodriguez (the 2016 K-Rod), there was also a Joba Chamberlain, Mark Lowe or Joe Nathan.
Additionally, Detroit has also struggled to find long-term bullpen fits from the team’s minor league system.
Jose Valdez, Ian Krol, Angel Nesbitt and Joe Mantiply failed to stick, while Corey Knebel was traded before he could realize his full potential.
Because of the lack of reinforcements from the minors, Detroit has been in part forced to rely on veterans.
That could change as early as September, as a wave of promising relievers make are poised to make their Major League debuts.
Jairo Labourt
Age: 23
The closest of the bunch to the Majors is likely Jairo Labourt.
A left-hander with power stuff, Labourt is thriving in his first full season in the bullpen.
Labourt began the year with Advanced-A Lakeland and dominated there. He punched out 22 of the 51 batters he faced en route to posting a 0.66 ERA in 13.2 innings.
The southpaw continued his success in 30.2 innings at Double-A Erie, striking out 36 batters while allowing just seven walks. He turned in a 0.978 WHIP and a 2.64 ERA.
A promotion to Triple-A Toledo has seen Labourt continue to limit runs scored, with a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings.
Labourt has had some issues with walks as a member of Toledo’s bullpen, with 13 free passes allowed.
He’s offset these with 15 strike outs and a minuscule .109 batting average against, keeping his WHIP at the level at 1.26.
If Labourt reigns in the walks, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him in the Majors in September.
Zac Reininger
Age: 24
An eight-round pick in 2013, Reininger has posted some strong numbers in 2017 en route to earning promotions from Advanced-A to Double-A and then again to Triple-A.
In 58 frames (36 appearances), Reininger has pitched to a 2.64 ERA and a 0.966 WHIP. He’s also struck out 8.8 patters per nine innings, while surrendering just 0.3 home runs per nine frames.
Bryan Garcia
Age: 22
Another fast riser in Detroit’s system, Garcia was taken in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. He was the Tigers’ first player drafted following Matt Manning and Kyle Funkhouser.
The hard-throwing right-hander has Labourt beat in the sense that he’s pitched at more levels of the Detroit Tigers minor league system this season.
Garcia has thrown for Single-A West Michigan, Advanced-A Lakeland, Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.
The 22-year-old has allowed just two hits and two walks in his three innings with the Mud Hens so far, striking out six in the process.
On the season, he owns a 1.41 ERA, a .178 batting average against and a 0.99 WHIP. He’s struck out 72 of the 174 batters he’s faced this year.
A potential closer with 32 games finished and 17 saves in 2017, Garcia may end up debuting next season, but he’ll be worth the wait as a potential impact reliever down the line.
Myles Jaye
Age: 25
Jaye could eventually step into the Detroit Tigers rotation, but if all five starting berths are filled, the right-hander could move to the bullpen temporarily in a similar vein to how Drew Smyly was used in 2013.
The right-hander does well to limit damage with just 35 walks and 11 home runs surrendered in 109 2017 frames.
This is all without mentioning Joe Jimenez (22) and Bruce Rondon (26), who should continue to garner more innings down the stretch in 2017.
Next: Anibal Sanchez is struggling. Tigers should make rotation change
The future of the Detroit Tigers bullpen is bright, and it is coming sooner rather than later.