Detroit Tigers select Zac Reininger’s contract, send Chad Bell to Toledo

Detroit Tigers fans will see a new reliever debut with the team as Zac Reininger had his contract selected. The Tigers announced the move in a tweet Wednesday night.

Detroit Tigers reliever Zac Reininger will soon make his Major League debut with the team.

Just when exactly remains to be seen, obviously, but Reininger gives the Detroit bullpen some much-needed reinforcements.

The Tigers have surrendered 23 runs over the team’s last two games.

In Tuesday’s series-opening loss to New York, Warwick Saupold and Drew VerHagen both threw 2.1 innings, while Joe Jimenez and Jeff Ferrell also tossed a frame each.

Jimenez was the only one of the four not to allow two runs.

Elsewhere, southpaw Chad Bell soaked up four runs in Wednesday’s loss as Jordan Zimmermann last just four innings.

Now, Reininger joins the bullpen.

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

The Tigers tweeted:

“The #Tigers optioned LHP Chad Bell to Triple-A Toledo. RHP Zac Reininger will have his contract selected from Toledo before Thursday’s game.”

Reininger started the 2017 season with Advanced-A Lakeland, before making the move to both Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.

The right-hander, who like many young pitchers in Detroit’s system throws hard, is just 24-years-oild.

He pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 Triple-A innings, striking out five and walking four.

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Overall, the former eighth-round pick owns a 2.54 ERA, a 0.942 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 63.2 frames.

He’s worked in 42 games, walking just 2.5 batters per nine innings.

Unlike Saupold, VerHagen and Bell, Reininger could pitch later in games for the Tigers as a potential sixth or seventh-inning option.

He’s likely the first of a wave of young relievers who will make their team debut in the near future.

Jairo Labourt looks like a potential September call-up, as does 2016 draft pick Bryan Garcia. Both power relievers are posting excellent numbers with Triple-A Toledo.

Chad Bell

Meanwhile, Bell heads to Toledo to make room for Reininger.

Serving as a long reliever, Bell pitched in 19 games for the Tigers. He finished six games while notching 42.2 innings.

All told, the left-hander pitched to a 5.48 ERA, a 5.34 FIP, a 4.84 xFIP and a 4.49 SIERA. He did strike out 8.02 batters per nine innings, while posting a 19.7 strikeout percentage and an 8.8 swinging strike percentage.

The 27-year-old previously worked as a starter for Triple-A Toledo earlier this year, logging a 3.38 ERA and a 1.295 WHIP in six starts spanning 29.1 innings.

Next: Tigers should make more moves like the Mikie Mahtook deal

Moving forward, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bell back with the Detroit Tigers in a week when rosters expand for September call ups.