Meet the 2021 Toledo Mud Hens opening day players
May 3—Blade sports writer Amanda Levine breaks down the 2021 Toledo Mud Hens roster ahead of opening day May 4 against the Nashville Sounds at Fifth Third Field.
MATT MANNING
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 23
—Acquired: First-round pick (No. 9 overall) in 2016
—What to know: MLB's No. 21 and Detroit's No. 3 prospect, Manning will make his Triple-A debut this summer. In 2019, he was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Year after an 11-5 record and a 2.56 earned-run average.
DREW HUTCHINSON
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 30
—Acquired: Signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers in February
—What to know: Hutchinson last pitched in the majors for the 2018 Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies. In 2020, he pitched for an independent league and finished with a 4.09 ERA over 22 innings.
WILY PERALTA
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 31
—Acquired: Signed with Detroit as a free agent in February
—What to know: Peralta spent eight seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. In 2019, he recorded two saves with a 5.80 ERA and struck out 24 opposing batters.
ERASMO RAMIREZ
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 30
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in January
—What to know: Ramirez played nine years in the majors with the Mariners, Rays, Mets, and Red Sox. In 2020 with New York, he allowed one run over 14 1/3 innings. At the Tigers spring training, he allowed one run on a home run over 13 1/3 innings.
LOGAN SHORE
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 26
—Acquired: Traded to Detroit from Oakland in 2018 as a part of the Mike Fiers deal.
—What to know: Shore pitched to a 3.43 ERA over 97 innings for Double- A Erie. He was drafted out of the University of Florida, where he was the 2016 SEC Pitcher of the Year.
RONY GARCIA
—Position: Starting pitcher (right)
—Age: 23
—Acquired: Selected by Detroit in 2019 Rule 5 draft.
—What to know: Garcia made his major league debut with the Tigers in the 2020 abbreviated season. Last year, he was prone to the long ball, allowing seven home runs over 21 innings.
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NOLAN BLACKWOOD
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 26
—Acquired: Traded to Detroit from Oakland in 2018 as a part of the Mike Fiers deal.
—What to know: Blackwood was at Toledo's alternate site for the 2020 season. In 2019, he recorded four saves (out of six opportunities) for Double-A Erie.
BEAU BURROWS
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 24
—Acquired: Selected in the first round (No. 22) of the 2015 draft
—What to know: The right-handed pitcher is one of Detroit's top 30 prospects. In 2017, Burrows was named to the Futures Game roster, an all-star game of MLB's top prospects.
DREW CARLTON
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 25
—Acquired: Selected in the 32nd round of the 2017 draft
—What to know: Across three minor league seasons, Carlton has spent most of his time as a closer. In 2019, he recorded 19 saves out of 20 chances for Double-A Erie.
JASON FOLEY
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 25
—Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016
—What to know: Detroit's 30th best prospect, Foley has a career 3.29 ERA over 87 2/3 innings. He spent last summer at the Tigers alternate site.
KYLE FUNKHOUSER
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 27
—Acquired: Selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft
—What to know: Funkhouser made his major league debut last season with Detroit. In 13 appearances he allowed 14 runs.
JOE JIMENEZ
—Position: Relief pitcher (right)
—Age: 26
—Acquired: Signed as an amateur free agent in 2013.
—What to know: A one-time MLB all-star, Jimenez was the Tigers closer before his struggles last season. He made one appearance in Detroit this season.
MIGUEL DEL POZO
—Position: Relief pitcher (left)
—Age: 28
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in January
—What to know: Del Pozo played in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason. In the winter league, he gave up one run over six innings.
IAN KROL
—Position: Relief pitcher (left)
—Age: 29
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in December 2020
—What to know: Krol spent the 2019 season with two Triple- A teams: Louisville Bats and Rochester Red Wings. He allowed 13 runs over 20 2/3 innings.
ROBBIE ROSS
—Position: Relief pitcher (left)
—Age: 31
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in January
—What to know: Ross last reached the majors in 2017 with the Boston Red Sox. Since then, he's played for Triple-A Charlotte and two independent league teams.
LOCKE ST. JOHN
—Position: Relief pitcher
—Age: 28
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in January
—What to know: Detroit drafted St. John, before the Rangers claimed him the 2017 Rule 5 Draft. In 2019, he made his major league debut with Texas.
JAKE ROGERS
—Position: Catcher
—Age: 26
—Acquired: Traded by Houston to Detroit in 2017 as part of Justin Verlander deal.
—What to know: Rogers was a Johnny Bench Awawrd finalist when he was at Tulane. He's the Tigers No. 14 prospect and played mostly with Toledo in 2019.
DUSTIN GARNEAU
—Position: Catcher
—Age: 33
—Acquired: Signed with Detroit as a free agent in December
—What to know: Garneau spent six seasons at the major league level with five teams. Three of those seasons were with the Colorado Rockies.
ERIC HAASE
—Position: Catcher
—Age: 28
—Acquired: Traded by Cleveland to Detroit in 2020 for cash
—What to know: A Detroit native, Haase played parts of three years with Cleveland. He made his major league debut in 2018 and played in nine games.
RENATO NUNEZ
—Position: Infield
—Age: 27
—Acquired: Signed as a free agent in February
—What to know: Nunez has already played seven games for the Tigers this season. His four hits were all for extra bases: two doubles and two home runs.
KODY CLEMENS
—Position: Infield
—Age: 24
—Acquired: Selected in the third round of the 2018 draft
—What to know: Detroit's No. 16 prospect and son of former major leaguer Roger, Clemens won 2018 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year award as a junior.
ZACK SHORT
—Position: Infield
—Age: 25
—Acquired: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to Detroit in 2020 for Cameron Maybin
—What to know: Short climbed through the Cubs farm system, before he was traded to Detroit. He's the organization's No. 24 prospect and was a teammate of Foley's in college.
ISAAC PAREDES
—Position: Infield
—Age: 22
—Acquired: Traded by the Cubs to Detroit in 2017 as part of the deal for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson.
—What to know: Paredes made his major league debut last season. The Tigers' No. 4 prospect hit .220 with six RBIs in 2020.
BRADY POLICELLI
—Position: Infield
—Age: 25
—Acquired: Selected in the 13th round of the 2016 draft
—What to know: Policelli reached as high as High-A in 2019. He's listed as an infielder, but played some time behind the plate in college and also has experience in the outfield.
ADERLIN RODRIGUEZ
—Position: Infield
—Age: 29
—Acquired: Signed a minor-league contract in January
—What to know: Rodriguez has played 11 years in the minors and is in pursuit of his major league debut. He last played in the minors for the El Paso Chihuahuas, a Triple- A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
DANIEL PINERO
—Position: Infield
—Age: 26
—Acquired: Selected in the ninth round of the 2016 draft
—What to know: Pinero was drafted a total of three times, twice by the Tigers. He spent the 2019 season with Double-A Erie and has played all infield positions.
CHRISTIN STEWART
—Position: Outfield
—Age: 27
—Acquired: Selected in the first round (No. 34) of the 2015 draft
—What to know: A former top prospect for Detroit, Stewart had three home runs for the 2020 Tigers. He last appeared in Toledo in 2019, batting .289 across 22 games.
DEREK HILL
—Position: Outfield
—Age: 25
—Acquired: Selected in the first round (No. 23) of the 2014 draft
—What to know: Hill played in 15 games for the Tigers last season after only playing as high as Double-A. He had one hit with Detroit and scored three runs.
DAZ CAMERON
—Position: Outfield
—Age: 24
—Acquired: Traded by Houston to Detroit in 2017 as part of Justin Verlander deal
—What to know: Cameron, son of former major leaguer Mike, made his Tigers debut last summer. In 2020, he had three extra-base hits in 59 plate appearances.
