Friday, August 31, 2012

Avisail Garcia Promoted, Jeff Baker DFA

The Tigers announced today that they are promoting outfielder Avisail Garcia to Detroit in time for the weekend series versus the White Sox. To make room for him on the roster, they have designated utility man Jeff baker for assignment. 

The Tigers could have waited one more day until the rosters expanded without reassigning anyone, but they apparently wanted to have Garcia available tonight for the opener of the big series versus the White Sox.  The 21-year-old right-handed batter is going to start tomorrow's game versus the left-handed Francisco Liriano and will probably be available for pinch-hitting duty tonight.


One of the top Tigers hitting prospects, Garcia batted a combined .299/.333/.455 in 122 games for High Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie.  I saw him playing earlier this summer and he resembles Miguel Cabrera facially and in build.  Garcia also has good power potential, but the comparison stops there as he and Cabrera have two very different skill sets.  By most accounts, Garcia has good speed for a big man (23 steals this year) and the ability to be an above average defender in right field. On the downside, he does not yet have much patience or pitch recognition and has an 18/95 BB/K ratio this year.

Baker was a disappointment for the Tigers after being acquired in a waiver deal earlier this month.  He batted just .200/.243/.257 in 15 games playing mostly versus left handers.  






No comments:

Post a Comment

Twitter

Blog Archive

Subscribe

My Sabermetrics Book

My Sabermetrics Book
One of Baseball America's top ten books of 2010

Other Sabermetrics Books

Stat Counter