Two years ago, Detroit Tigers outfielder Christin Stewart hit a game-winning two-run homer on Opening Day in the top of the 10th inning. The moment was an introduction of what the organization expected the former first-round draft pick to become.
But Stewart was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Thursday, roughly one hour before the Tigers took the field for Opening Day warmups. The 27-year-old was cut from the 40-man roster to make room for 34-year-old left-handed reliever Derek Holland.
Holland was a non-roster invitee to spring training and pitched his way onto the roster with 9⅓ scoreless innings, 16 strikeouts and one walk.
“As we build this team, and we’ve already had hard decisions, we’re going to have harder decisions about who to keep on the roster, who not to keep on the roster as guys are pushing to get to the big leagues,” manager AJ Hinch said Thursday. “It’s part of the business and part of the timeline.”
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Across 157 career games in parts of three seasons, Stewart hit .225 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, 49 walks and 146 strikeouts. He was the team’s Opening Day starter in left field for the previous two seasons.
Last year, Stewart had a .167 batting average, three homers, nine RBIs, five walks and 30 strikeouts in 36 games. The Tigers sent him to the alternate training site in Toledo in early September.
“I can imagine he’s at crossroads,” Hinch said. “He doesn’t know if he’s going to be in this organization, another organization, off the roster, on the roster. Baseball can beat you up a little bit along the way, but he’s had a great attitude the entire spring.”
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This spring, Stewart went 3-for-18 (.167) with no homers or walks, two RBIs and 10 strikeouts in 10 games. He was sent to Triple-A Toledo in March as part of the second round of cuts during camp.
The Tigers drafted Stewart No. 34 overall in 2015 from Tennessee. With the move, the Tigers’ 40-man roster remains full. “Obviously, still think he’s a good player and has potential,” Hinch said.
Also, the Tigers placed right-hander Rony Garcia on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Monday, with an abdominal strain.
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Turnbull active in Lakeland
Right-hander Spencer Turnbull was forced to leave the Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland, Florida, midway through March for COVID-19 protocols. He entered into quarantine and could not get access into the complex — not even at the backfields in the evening.
Hinch said Turnbull has recently been cleared to return to the complex. He is going to pitch a few bullpens to “get his legs underneath him” and “get his arm moving” before transitioning to the alternate training site in Toledo for a competitive environment.
“He’s in spring training mode at the Lakeland facility every day,” Hinch said.
This spring, Turnbull made three starts, giving up up five runs on eight hits and four walks, with nine strikeouts, across nine innings. The 28-year-old posted a 3.97 ERA in 11 games last season, and is slated to pitch at the top of the rotation when he returns.
The alternate training site is expected to begin this weekend.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
