The Detroit Tigers made a quartet of roster moves before Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, including putting right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
Losing Fulmer forced the Tigers to make additional decisions.
The organization called up righty reliever Jason Foley from Triple-A Toledo to take his place in the bullpen and make his MLB debut. To make room for Foley on the 40-man roster, outfielder JaCoby Jones — demoted to Triple-A earlier this season — was designated for assignment.
Foley, 25, is the Tigers’ No. 27 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. His fastball velocity sits in the upper-90s and has reached 101 mph. The Tigers signed Foley in August 2016 as an undrafted free agent from Sacred Heart University.
“He throws hard,” Hinch said about Foley. “He seemingly can control the moment. He’s going to be in awe facing some of the big names as he’s climbed the ladder, but the stuff is real. When you see that impact and it opens some eyes, when the opportunity comes about, you want to see if you can catch something.”
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In nine games for the Mud Hens this season, Foley logged a 3.60 ERA, four walks and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings. He finished the 2019 campaign with a 3.89 ERA, 17 walks and 43 strikeouts in 44 innings at the High-A level but did not pitch in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic nixed the minor leagues.
Foley previously underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2018 season.
“Once he got to Triple-A, he started to establish himself as a guy that was going to factor in at some point during the season,” Hinch said. “Given where we’re at and some of the right-handed bullpen that we want to utilize for the next couple series, he’s earned the opportunity to get a look.”
Fulmer, 28, has not pitched since May 30 because of what Hinch previously described as “fatigue.”
The initial plan was to give him a break before using him in the four-game series with the White Sox from Thursday through Sunday. Before Saturday’s contest, Fulmer reported that his throwing arm was uncomfortable and made himself unavailable to pitch.
“He has some inflammation, which a lot of pitchers do right now,” Hinch said. “We’re very cognizant of his injury history (knee surgery, Tommy John surgery) and also just the difficulty in the pandemic year to this year. We almost have to react this way to protect him, protect us and give him a blow. That’s really what we view this as.”
Fulmer will undergo tests once the team returns to Detroit on Sunday night.
“We’re not expecting this to linger a long time,” Hinch said. “But we have to be cautious given the way it kind of all went down from the beginning of the week to the end of the week. We need to run a full battery of tests to see exactly what it is that we’re dealing with. We don’t think it’s structural, and we don’t think it’s something that’s going to escalate.”
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Before getting optioned to Triple-A Toledo on May 24, Jones hit .170 with five walks and 42 strikeouts across 36 games in the majors. For the Mud Hens, he posted a .205 batting average, three walks and 18 strikeouts in 10 games.
If Jones, 29, clears waivers, he can remain with in Detroit’s organization but will not occupy a spot on the 40-man roster. Essentially, the Tigers don’t see Jones fitting into the future if he isn’t producing, especially because younger players — such as Derek Hill and Daz Cameron — need opportunities.
“We are very deep in (the outfield),” Hinch said. “So, it’s his roster spot that goes to Foley. Those are always difficult, certainly for somebody who has been in the organization and has contributed in the organization. It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for him, but hopefully, he’ll bounce back, play well and get back to the big leagues.”
Also, the Tigers reinstated right-handed starter Jose Urena from the injured list. He sustained a right forearm strain May 26 against Cleveland, missed one start and is scheduled to pitch Sunday in the series finale with the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“I just want him to get through his outing healthy,” Hinch said. “I want him to be good, and we expect him to go as long as he can, but I need both of those things. I need him healthy, and I need him good.”
Turnbull in ‘good spirits’
The Tigers placed right-handed starter Spencer Turnbull on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right forearm strain. He was removed from Friday’s 9-8 loss to the White Sox after the fourth inning. He only threw 56 pitches.
“I just saw him in the training room,” Hinch said. “He’s in good spirits. He’s seen a handful of doctors here and talked to our team doctors back in Detroit. There’s no structural damage. As we said, it’s muscular in nature. He does have inflammation he’s got to deal with, but we were very happy with the initial diagnosis.
“All signs are positive so far.”
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.