Detroit Tigers Starting To Get Good News Ahead Of Spring Training
By Tony Fischer
With the calendar creeping toward the start of spring training good news about some key Detroit Tigers players are starting to trickle in.
Jose Igelsias looks to be recovered from shine splints and will receive another evaluation this week.
Jose Iglesias is running sprints at 75-80%. He has been fielding and hitting. He will be re-evaluated in Colorado at the end of the week.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) January 12, 2015
It’s easy to forget about Jose Iglesias after he missed the entire 2014 season. His absence was the reason the Detroit Tigers had a revolving door at shortstop last season before finally settling on Eugenio Suarez for the stretch run. Although Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez are on the 40 man roster, Iglesias should resume his role as starting shotrtstop if healthy by the start of the regular season.
Jose Iglesias burst onto the baseball sence as a rookie of the years candidate with the boston Red Sox in 2013. he came to the Tigers three-way trade at the deadline in an attempt to fill the gap left by the suspended Jhonny Peralta. Iglesias was effective but waned down the stretch after he began suffering from shine splints.
The injury would end up costing him and the Tigers the entire 2014 season. Now Dave Dombrowski and company hope to see how Iglesias can help the team by having him healthy for a full season. Iglesias was a catalyst for the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Tigers are counting on him to play that role on this years edition of the Tigers.
The Tigers are also optimistic about another key young player. Bruce Rondon is throwing again after surgery to his pitching elbow and also seems on track to pitch in Spring Training.
Bruce Rondon is long-tossing but has yet to get on a mound. Tigers are hoping for 5-6 bullpen sessions before pitchers and catchers report.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) January 12, 2015
Rondon was supposed to be a key member of the back-end of the Detroit Tigers bullpen last season before he experienced soreness in his pitching elbow at the end of spring training. An MRI revealed a torn ligament the required surgery putting an end to Rondon’s season.
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Even though it happened before the start of the regular season, Rondon’s injury may have been the most significant for the 2014 Tigers. Rondon’s absence caused a void in the back-end of the bullpen the Tigers were never able to address. That void eventually cause their demise in 2014.
The return of Bruce Rondon could have the effect of a off-season trade and will be a huge boost for the bully. Many questioned Dave Dombrowski for not making enough moves to shore up the bullpen this offseason. But with Rondon on track to start spring training, it looks like his grand plan is coming together.