Maligned former Tigers player just got a second MLB chance after Cardinals injury

More than seven months after his unceremonious exit from the Detroit Tigers, outfielder Ryan Vilade is back in the big leagues.

The 26-year-old is getting another shot in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, who selected his contract from Triple-A Memphis on Saturday in a corresponding move to outfielder Jordan Walker's placement on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation.

Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the second round (No. 48 overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, Vilade has just 20 Major League games under his belt – three with the Rockies in 2021 and 17 with the Tigers last season. After the Rockies placed him on waivers in 2022, Vilade was claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates and spent the 2023 season with Triple-A Indianapolis before electing free agency at the end of the year.

Detroit signed Vilade to a minor-league contract prior to the 2024 season, the majority of which he spent at Triple-A Toledo. Over three separate stints with the Tigers, he went 8-for-45 (.178) with a home run in 17 games before being waived at the end of the season.

Former Tigers outfielder Ryan Vilade just got a second MLB chance after Cardinals injury

In 108 games at Triple-A Toledo last season, Vilade hit .278 with a .795 OPS, including 24 doubles, 13 homers and 20 stolen bases. He primarily plays the outfield, making appearances at all three outfield positions when he was in the Major Leagues with Detroit, but he also has experience as an infielder.

The Cardinals signed Vilade to a minor-league deal during the offseason, and he has since appeared at all three outfield positions as well as first, second, and third base over 48 games with Triple-A Memphis. While his defensive versatility is arguably his greatest asset at the big league level, Vilade is also slashing an impressive .280/.375/.476 with five home runs and 31 RBI over 192 trips to the plate with Memphis.

Vilade is enjoying the best offensive season at the Triple-A level to this point, and he has an opportunity to carry that momentum into his next big league opportunity with the Cardinals. How long that opportunity lasts depends on the extent of Walker's injury – and on whether Vilade can finally figure out major league pitching.

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