Detroit Tigers supervisor Ron Gardenhire shouldnt have sounded so dissatisfied after a 12-1 win Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers — the teams 6th straight triumph for a 17-16 record with 27 video games left in the shortened season.
However he was upset.
As he had been since the eighth inning when he bounced out of the dugout with head athletic trainer Doug Teter to examine JaCoby Jones. His finger was “a lot of different colors,” and it was ” not a pretty sight” after a 90.3 miles per hour fastball drilled his left hand.
[Michael Fulmer hopes he can turn the corner as postseason push starts] His hand was fractured. The spark plug of the Tigers– offensively, defensively and with his personality in the clubhouse– is done for the season. For the 2nd time in as numerous years, Gardenhire should find a way to end up the season without Jones. Last time, it was a broken wrist from a fastball that plunked him in August in the middle of a 114-loss project. This time, the Tigers are just a half-game back of the ALs last area in the playoffs.
Gardenhire revealed on WXYT-FM (97.1) on Wednesday morning that the group will call up outfielder Derek Hill to replace Jones on the lineup.
” Thats what I hesitated of,” right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer, who tossed 3 scoreless innings Tuesday, stated when he discovered the medical diagnosis. “Tough blow. Yeah, it just sucks to lose a man like that.”
For customers: How a woman named Naomi changed JaCoby Jones
So how does Gardenhire plan to respond?
” Drink heavily?” he asked.
He was just attempting to lighten the state of mind..
Truly, the Tigers lost an important gamer. He fought through minor injuries and showcased his competitive feelings every day while slashing.247/.327/.526 with five homers and 14 RBIs.
[JaCoby Jones fractures left hand in win over Brewers] However its now time for a brand-new “John Wayne” to step up, namely 25-year-old Victor Reyes.
We can match and mix with (Christin Stewart) and (Jorge) Bonifacio in left. Weve got a lot going on tonight.”.
[Gardenhire: Trading OF Cameron Maybin came out of no place] In the meantime, center field is Reyes job to lose.
Versus the Brewers, he ended up 4-for-6 with five RBIs, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning, to ignite the 11-run triumph. His slash line has spiked to.303/.333/.477, with six doubles, two triples, 3 homers and 11 RBIs in 32 video games.
” Its very, very problem for the group,” Reyes said through translator Carlos Guillen. “You know, JaCoby, he offers defense and uses offense, however no matter what, we got to keep moving on and winning games.”.
[Jones is the Tigers version of John Wayne; describing his offending surge] A Rule 5 draft pick from 2017, Reyes has actually made 58 starts in center field through 201 career games. On Saturday, he began in Jones location for the second video game of a doubleheader versus the Minnesota Twins. He robbed a home run from slugger Miguel Sano in the 4th inning, and in the 5th, he added a diving catch in shallow center field..
Reyes isnt worried about the shift. Neither is Gardenhire.
” There are a couple of things you fret about, however not Reyes– on offense or defense,” Gardenhire stated. “Hes become a player at this level, and he proves it every night. I do not need to tell Ray-Ray anything but just head out there and have some fun like youve been doing. Were gon na miss JaCoby, but Reyes will complete. Hell do his job.”.
His offending surge is nothing brand-new. Last season, Reyes hit.304 with 3 homers and 25 RBIs in 69 games. The greatest concern with Reyes is his strikeout rate, something he did 46 times compared to five walks through 100 games in 2018.
He fanned 64 times with 14 strolls in 2019.
And in 2020? He has 21 strikeouts and 4 walks.
” Normally, you put those 2 together, its not an excellent scenario,” Gardenhire said. “But he gets it. He simply finds a way to get hits.
” And hes a heck of a baseball player. Were lucky we got that guy.”.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press.
On Saturday, he began in Jones location for the 2nd game of a doubleheader versus the Minnesota Twins.” There are a few things you worry about, but not Reyes– on offense or defense,” Gardenhire stated. Were gon na miss out on JaCoby, however Reyes will fill in. Last season, Reyes hit.304 with 3 homers and 25 RBIs in 69 video games.” Normally, you put those two together, its not an excellent scenario,” Gardenhire said.
