Dario Agrazal will start the season in the Detroit Tigers’ rotation, manager Ron Gardenhire confirmed before Friday’s first game of the season.
The 25-year-old Panama right-hander who made his major league debut last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates is expected to be the fifth starter, after Matthew Boyd, Ivan Nova, Spencer Turnbull and Michael Fulmer.
Fulmer will operate as a sort of “starter,” probably backed by left-hander Tyler Alexander.
Gardenhire charitably referred to Agrazal as a “veteran,” although he started just 14 games, going 4-5 with a 4.91 ERA for the Pirates. The Tigers claimed it with exemptions last winter.
“We like Aggie,” said Gardenhire. “He has time in the Major Leagues as a starter. We like what you can do. He can spin the ball. He reads hitters very well. He can throw back. We will have it in the rotation and then we will go from there, depending on how everything else is shaken ”.
As things “shake up,” Agrazal may only make one or two starts before being replaced by Daniel Norris (currently on the disabled list after a month-long COVID absence), Alexander, or even the main prospect. Casey Mize.
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In the pen: The Tigers will have 10 or 11 pitchers in the bullpen most nights. Three of the relievers, Beau Burrows, Kyle Funkhouser, and Rony Garcia, have never pitched in a major league game. Four others, Gregory Soto, Bryan Garcia, John Schreiber and David McKay, have less than a year of service in the major leagues.
Gardenhire said that in an ideal world, it would facilitate youth action, but that might not be possible given how many there are.
“When you want to try to put someone in a place that has a little less pressure, it never happens,” he said. “These are the big leagues. We will try our best to put them in the right situations, but ultimately when you play with fewer innings with your headlines right now everyone will be able to pitch. It is going to happen and I hope they are well. They have been fine up to this point. I don’t think they are afraid. They all attack.
About Daniel Norris: The Tigers left-hander is eager to return, but Gardenhire said the team is trying to slow him down.
“He thinks he is ready now, and that is the problem,” Gardenhire said. “We just have to pull the reins towards him. We told him that you have to give yourself a little time … I know he wants to go, go, go, but we are trying to do it the right way so that the child doesn’t get hurt before he gets hurt. come back up here.
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