‘I’m pretty good at rolling with things’: Drew Hutchison to rejoin Tigers pitching staff

Detroit News

Detroit — The Tigers will, for the fourth time since 2021, purchase the contract of veteran right-hander Drew Hutchison. He will start in the finale Wednesday and likely stay in the rotation at least through the All-Star break.

“It’s a good opportunity for me,” the 31-year-old Hutchison said. “It was the quickest opportunity to the big leagues. The Tigers were very upfront with me and our communication has been very good and honest. That’s all you can ask for as a player.”

Hutchison finished last season in the Tigers’ rotation and has appeared in 12 games this season, including two starts in June. He was designated for assignment again on June 20 to clear roster space for third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who was activated off the injured list.

Hutchinson, for the fourth time, elected free agency. After exploring other options, he signed back on a minor-league deal with the Tigers.

“I think at this point I’m pretty good at rolling with things,” he said. “I have a good idea of what’s going on. And like I said, that communication and them being honest with me makes that decision a little simpler.”

The Tigers will have to send out a pitcher, likely a reliever, to clear a spot for Hutchison.

“It’s going to be very tough,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “There is no one down there that deserves to be sent out. It sucks. But we need to have a starter. We’re going to need them until the All-Star break. We can’t carry four.

“We knew this was coming, but it’s very unfortunate for somebody.”

Rebounding Baddoo

Hinch has been locked in to outfielder Akil Baddoo‘s resurgence at Triple-A Toledo. He went 10 for 20 in the recent home series against Louisville.

“It’s nice to see him make some adjustments and then have some success off those adjustments,” Hinch said. “It looks like his vibe is back. His energy is certainly high. There is plenty to like with what he’s doing. Which is why we wanted him to go down there and play.”

More: Around the Tigers’ farm: Akil Baddoo’s fireworks hint at a hot summer

This hot stretch was delayed for several weeks by an oblique strain he suffered soon after the Tigers optioned him in May. The Tigers outfield is crowded these days, and still waiting for Austin Meadows (Achilles tendons) to return.

But Hinch made it clear Baddoo was still in the plans.

“Of course,” he said. “We want Akil on this team. It’s just a matter of when we feel like he can be a contributor and when the playing time is there for him. But he’s a big-leaguer. We knew that when we sent him down.

“We wanted him to decompress and get back to being himself again. But he factors in our present and our future, in all aspects.”

Grossman back

The first thought was that he was dealing with some nagging injury. For the first time this season, outfielder Robbie Grossman was held out of the lineup two days in a row — Saturday and Sunday.

A quick check with him and he said it was all systems go. For sure he’d been struggling at the plate. He was called out on strikes twice Friday night, the last at-bat he never ventured a swing.

But his benching wasn’t performance-based, either. Turns out, it was just a freak scheduling mishap caused by the Royals swapping starting pitchers.

Brady Singer was supposed to start on Saturday,” Hinch said. “I know it’s a small sample, but Robbie is 0-for-10 with seven punch-outs against him. I was going to sit him against Singer. But they changed and started (Kris) Bubic Saturday. I told Robbie I was giving him a couple of days off.”

Hinch said he expects Grossman to play both games of the doubleheader Monday.

Guardians at Tigers

First pitch: 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, Comerica Park, Detroit

TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit, 97.1 FM

Scouting report

RHP Cal Quantrill (4-4, 3.72), Guardians: He’s coming off a strong, eight-inning performance against the Twins, allowing just three runs. He’s been steady and reliable since Terry Francona put him the rotation last season. He doesn’t have a high strikeout rate, but he’s getting a 32% chase rate, mostly with his cutter and changeup, which he throws off a 93-mph sinker.

Drew Hutchison (0-4, 4.81), Tigers: This will be the fourth time the Tigers have signed, DFA’d and re-signed Hutchison in the last two years. This time, though, it’s likely he will stay in the rotation until the All-Star break, at least. He went four innings and threw 67 pitches for Toledo on Thursday, striking out six.

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @cmccosky

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