Detroit — Another day, another bit of bad injury news for the Detroit Tigers.
The team on Saturday announced outfielder Akil Baddoo was placed on the 10-day IL with a right quad strain suffered in Friday night’s 11-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Comerica Park.
“Obviously disappointing to lose (Baddoo) … he went and got checked out, the doctors diagnosed it with a quad strain, so he’ll be out for the foreseeable future,” Hinch said of Baddoo’s injury.
“I’ve been told it’s on the more mild side, which is better than some, but regardless, those are tricky, especially with speed guys.”
In a corresponding move, the Tigers recalled utility man Nick Solak, who was claimed off waivers from Atlanta Friday night. Hinch said Solak is one of a few hitters who could be called on to pick up those at-bats, in addition to Kerry Carpenter, Andy Ibanez (the fill-in on Friday night), and maybe even Zack Short.
Outfielders Matt Vierling (back) and Riley Greene (leg) are also on the 10-day IL.
“We’re gonna have to spread them around a little bit … we’re gonna need to mix and match the opportunities,” Hinch said. “If you get hot, it’s a good thing, because then you can stay in there.”
Staying in there is something the 28-year-old Solak would love to do. The Tigers are his fifth team dating back to November of last year, when he was dealt to Cincinnati by the Texas Rangers, with whom he spent parts of four seasons.
The Reds then traded him to Seattle in March. He was placed on waivers in April and got claimed by the Chicago White Sox, was put back on waivers four days later and claimed by the Atlanta Braves, where he hung around for a staggering two-month stretch before again being waived and claimed.
“I don’t know if I’ve totally processed it all,” Solak said, standing at his new locker Saturday morning. “It’s part of the business, part of the game. To be able to go wherever and play is a blessing and just having that opportunity is cool. Wherever that is, I’m excited.
“It’s hard moving around to all different stops, but it’s exciting to get to a new place and go out and play.”
With the Braves, Solak played just one big-league game. In 42 Triple-A games this season, Solak is slashing .256/.358/.415 with six home runs, eight doubles, 20 walks and two stolen bases with an OPS of .773.
Catching a break
Outfield isn’t the only ripe opportunity in Detroit’s lineup. Hinch said Saturday he’s looking for either Eric Haase or Jake Rogers to win the every-day catcher role.
Rogers went 3-for-4 with two home runs in Friday’s loss to Arizona and took sole possession of the team’s homer lead, pushing his 2023 total to eight.
“I think for (Rogers), if he can maintain his preparation from behind the plate and the way he can control the running game … and then add something offensively towards the bottom of the order, it’ll get him in the lineup,” Hinch said.
“I’m looking for (Haase) or Rogers or somebody to grab ahold of the majority of playing time by doing things on both sides of the ball. But the power is very real with Jake, and generally it had been against left-handed pitching, so seeing him last night take a couple right-handers deep certainly got him in the lineup today.”
Don’t chase
“Chasing” typically applies to the hitting aspect of baseball, but Hinch used it Saturday to describe something he doesn’t want his pitcher doing.
Coming off a nine-strikeout performance last week against the White Sox, Matthew Boyd has been warned not to chase K’s against a lethal Arizona lineup.
“This will be a tough team to do that again,” Hinch said. “This is a really talented offense across the way because they control the strikezone, they don’t chase, they generally don’t swing and miss, they’re in the top tier when it comes to contact rate.
“So I don’t want him chasing the strikeouts as much as I want him to chase leverage and getting these guys uncomfortable in counts that they’re at.”
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @nolanbianchi