The Tigers placed shortstop Javier Baez on the 10-day injured list for right thumb pain. The placement is retroactive to April 13. The Tigers will play a man short in tonight’s game against the Royals and add a new player to the active roster ahead of tomorrow’s competition. Willie Castro It looks like he will be the replacement as the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens announced that Castro has been dropped from today’s lineup.
Baez has missed four games with this nagging thumb problem, scraping off the starting lineup twice in between. This apparently suggests the injury isn’t too serious, and while the X-rays were negative, the issue ultimately proved troublesome enough for the team to just put Baez on the IL. Between retroactive placement and Monday’s rest day in Detroit’s schedule, Baez is eligible to return with the Rockies during next weekend’s Tigers series.
After signing a six-year, $140 million deal during the offseason, Baez has gotten off to a good start at Motown, scoring .316/.350/.526 in his first 20 record appearances as Tiger. Harold Castro has filled in at shortstop in Baez’s absence and will likely continue to get most of the work despite the switch being flipped Willie Castro will also get some action after his likely call-up.