Paredes recalled from Toledo, Candelario moved to bereavement list

The Detroit Tigers have recalled infielder Isaac Paredes from Triple-A Toledo, placing Jeimer Candelario on the bereavement list. Typically these are very short term assignments, so we’ll wish Candelario and his loved ones well, and expect to see him back pretty shortly. In the meantime, Tigers fans will get another look at one of their top positional prospects.

Paredes is still just 22 years old, but after a rapid upward trajectory as a teenager, his progress the past few seasons has flattened out. At every level we’ve seen a combination of plate discipline, low strikeout rates, and plenty of balls in play. The problem continues to be the lack of power in his stroke, and unfortunately nothing has changed in that department this season.

Paredes holds his usual excellent strikeout to walk rate for the Toledo Mud Hens this year, checking in at 13.6 and 11.2 percent, respectively. He has two home runs, and six extra base hits overall in 125 plate appearances. He’s also played every position on the infield at one point or another, with the most reps coming at 3B and 2B, as you’d expect.

He showed off his splits at first base just last week, for example, as you’ll see in the clip below. He remains a sure-gloved, strong-armed defender in the infield, though with limited range. Overall, he continues to profile like a player who can provide some good at-bats for the Tigers in time, but the continued lack of power and speed makes this a difficult profile to pencil in at the power positions around the infield as a regular on a good team. He continues to put the ball on the ground to the pull side far too often to hit for the kind of power the Tigers need to see in an everyday third or second baseman.

However, in the short term, Candelario wasn’t providing a ton of power this year either, despite solid production. Paredes should be able to give the Tigers similar results for a few games, while getting the chance to work with the coaching staff.

The Tigers also had an update on the Spencer Turnbull front today. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like he’s dealing with a major injury, and should be back in the rotation reasonably soon. With a minor history of shoulder issues in his past, this is particularly good news.

In another move, the Tigers have also promoted outfielder Jacob Robson to Triple-A Toledo. He remains third in the club’s depth chart of speedy outfielders due to a lack of power, and doesn’t have a 40-man roster spot. However, as manager A.J. Hinch continues to churn through the various outfield options, it’s not impossible that Robson could eventually earn a cup of coffee, though he remains stuck behind guys like Derek Hill, Daz Cameron, and Victor Reyes in the queue.