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Detroit Tigers: 3 pitchers who have stepped up the most in 2022

By Tyler Kotila |
(Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)
(Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports)
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The Detroit Tigers’ unlikely members of the rotation have risen to the occasion.

Even though the Detroit Tigers season has not produced the most exciting results, the team’s pitching staff has turned some heads. While many may have hoped to see Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal carrying the staff, turning heads in that fashion, injuries have plagued things.

The Detroit Tigers have dealt with injury after injury and have seen plenty of arms step up. It’s been a “next man up” mentality where plenty of arms have been given the opportunity to take to the big league mound.

They have used 16 different pitchers in 2022, and 15 of those pitchers have made at least one start or more. Several of the Tigers pitchers have been able to rise to the occasion and provide solid outings, time and time again.

For the Tigers, this is huge. They have been able to get quality outings from unlikely sources. There have been some arms who have settled into the big leagues well in 2022. As the Tigers finish the 2022 season, they have to hope these arms can continue to get the job done.

The season has even brought a few debuts, including a few who may not have been anticipated for a debut in 2022. While there may not be a ton of really exciting aspects of 2022, the resilience of the pitching staff through so many injuries has been something.

Here are three Detroit Tigers arms who have stepped up in 2022.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 12: Starting pitcher Beau Brieske #63 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 12, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 12: Starting pitcher Beau Brieske #63 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 12, 2022, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers RHP Beau Brieske

The Detroit Tigers may be without Beau Brieske as he nurses a nagging bicep tendinitis injury. That’s a topic to discuss in itself as he continues to handle that and work on the road to recovery, hoping to make a few starts before the season’s end.

However, Brieske was an outstanding starter for the Tigers before ending up on the Injured List (IL). He got the job done time and time again, finding ways to be efficient and record-outs. He may not be out there striking out everyone, but he was able to miss barrels and get efficient outs.

He made the second-most starts on the team, behind only Skubal. Brieske made 15 starts to total 81.2 innings pitched. He managed a 4.19 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP, picking up 54 punchouts along the way as well.

The right-hander has a high-spin fastball that he pairs with the changeup often, finding success in doing so. He also mixes in a slider as his primary breaking ball and can sequence his pitches and tunnel them well for success.

Brieske made the jump from Double-A to Triple-A coming into the 2022 season. After injuries, he wound up with the big league club. He was able to string together solid start after solid start until being scratched from his start shortly after the All-Star Break. The rest was history.

He was one of the Tigers’ better options amid all the injuries. As the team continues to finish the rest of the 2022 season, the hope will be that Brieske can join the rotation once again.

Drew Hutchison throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Drew Hutchison throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers RHP Drew Hutchison

One of the most versatile arms the Detroit Tigers have trotted out there this season is Drew Hutchison. He has made 13 starts (third most on the team) and also thrown in 10 games out of the bullpen as well.

The Tigers saw Hutchison break out in his limited big league chances in 2021. He posted a 2.11 ERA over 21.1 innings pitched. Then, in 2022, the Tigers were able to keep Hutchison around, though I’d venture to say no one expected him to perform as well as he has to this point.

Hutchison has accumulated 82 innings pitched, pitching to a 4.06 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, and 53 punchouts to his credit. He’s cut down on the hard contact and kept rolling up groundballs to be efficient.

The right-handed pitcher is just another one of the Tigers pitchers who goes out there and does his job. He finds ways to piece together quality outings and keep the team in ballgames. He has a three-pitch mix, throwing strikes and being efficient.

The fastball plays up, and he’s able to front door his slider often, landing it for strikes or swings and misses. He’s got a 28.8% whiff rate on the slider, being the primary offspeed pitch he throws, according to Baseball Savant.

The Tigers’ rotation has been built on unlikely arms being efficient. Hutchison lives on soft contact and efficient outs. His performance in 2022 may not be award-winning, but given the situation, the Tigers will undoubtedly take it and be happy with it.

Tigers pitching prospect Garrett Hill throws during practice at the spring training minor league minicamp Thursday, Feb.17, 2022, at Tiger Town in Lakeland, Florida.Tigers2
Tigers pitching prospect Garrett Hill throws during practice at the spring training minor league minicamp Thursday, Feb.17, 2022, at Tiger Town in Lakeland, Florida.Tigers2 /

Detroit Tigers RHP Garrett Hill

The Detroit Tigers made the move to promote Garrett Hill to the big leagues during the 2022 season. In 2021, he did not make it above Double-A. This summer, he started in Double-A. He’s logged games in Triple-A in 2022, also getting to make his big league debut during the season.

Hill is yet another example of the Tigers’ rotation being able to churn out quality starts from unlikely sources. The right-handed pitcher has made eight starts with two relief appearances for the Tigers since getting promoted to the big leagues.

He has pitched to a 3.70 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and punched out 27 hitters over 48.2 innings pitched. It’s once again this recurring theme of Tigers pitchers being efficient. While they may not always be overpowering hitters, they get the job done.

In Hill’s case, he fills up the zone, misses barrels, and can induce weak contact and collect outs that way. He’s been a solid member of the Tigers rotation since being promoted to the big leagues to make his debut.

His fastball plays well up in the zone, and he’s able to work glove side. He’s a pitcher who mixes in a slider and changeup, showing a curveball in the repertoire. The breakers are both high-spin, being above 2,500 RPMs, with the curveball getting about 2,600 RPMs as the better of the two, spin-wise.

Next. 3 Detroit Tigers pitching prospects to keep eyes on to end 2022. dark

The Tigers have gotten plenty from Hill and several of the pitchers who have made starts in 2022. The “next man up” mentality has certainly paid off.

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