Detroit Tigers: Three Players who will make a difference in September

Zac Houston

It’s not the sexiest thing to be excited about the promotion of a reliever who was drafted in the 11th round, but Houston has been electric this season and deserves a shot at the Tigers bullpen.

Houston, an 11th round pick in the 2016 Draft out of Mississippi State, has been a strikeout machine this season. He began the year in Double-A Erie, tossing 17 1/3 innings and posting a 25/9 K/BB ratio and a 2.60 ERA.

His numbers have been even better since he got to Toledo, where he has posted a 1.18 ERA with 55 strikeouts in just 38.0 innings of work – good for a 13.03 K/9.

The six-foot-five, 220 pound Houston has a huge frame and a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and can reach 98. He is a two-pitch pitcher, with a slurvey slider complimenting his heater.

Houston has clearly done more than enough to merit an opportunity to pitch in the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Control is still a concern, with a 3.79 BB/9 and a tendency to plunk hitters when he’s trying to back them off the plate. His strikeout numbers will likely come down in the show, but his funky delivery and solid two-pitch mix should make him a viable bullpen option for the time being.

Plus, Detroit’s bullpen could use reinforcements. Bad. If Houston struggles, he is still unlikely to be worse than many of the options that have labored in the big leagues all season.