Detroit Tigers: Dawel Lugo gets call to major leagues

The Detroit Tigers have called up INF Dawel Lugo from Triple-A Toledo to replace Jeimer Candelario, who was surprisingly sent down Wednesday night.

Not many Detroit Tigers fans were expecting to hear the news that Jeimer Candelario was being optioned to Triple-A after the Tigers were swept by Houston. Candelario definitely had not been playing up to his full potential, but it had seemed as if the third baseman had his spot in Detroit’s lineup locked up.

Alas, that is not true and the “Candy Man” is headed to Toledo to “find himself” in the words of Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire. Coming up to take his place from Toledo is INF Dawel Lugo.

This will not be Lugo’s major league debut, however. The 24-year-old got some significant time on the Tigers’ major league roster last season, appearing in 27 games. In his time in the Motor City last year, Lugo hit .213 with 8 RBIs and one HR.

Some were thinking that Candelario being sent down could mean the major league debut of shortstop prospect Willi Castro. Castro has been making an impression with his bat in Toledo this year, hitting .317 with 13 RBIs in 31 games, but the 22-year-old isn’t getting the call up to the big leagues this time.

Lugo has been turning even more heads with his performance at the plate for Toledo this year. The righty hitter comes to the big leagues holds a .341 BA with 14 RBIs and two homers through 32 games in Triple-A.

Dawel Lugo is still relatively young and has had a hot bat this year down in Toledo. With some big league experience already under his belt, hopefully, his production at the plate in Triple-A translates to the major leagues and can help out a struggling Detroit Tigers offense.

Lugo could likely make his season debut on Thursday afternoon in the Tigers series opener against Oakland. First pitch for that game is set for 1:10 pm from Comerica Park.