Detroit Tigers: The Most Forgettable Position Players of the Last 10 Years
By Matt Snyder
Designated Hitter: Brad Eldred
Years with Tigers: 2012
Batting line: 17 PA, .188/.235/.375
A prototypical AAAA slugger, Brad Eldred was signed by the Detroit Tigers to a minor league contract ahead of the 2012 season and was assigned to the Toledo Mud Hens.
He got off to an incredibly hot start, reaching base 38 times and slamming 13 home runs in his first 20 games in the minor leagues that season. The eye-popping numbers earned Eldred a call to the major leagues when a struggling Brandon Inge was released by the club in late April.
Unfortunately the hot streak did not follow him to the major leagues. Eldred appeared in five games at the designated hitter position, collecting 16 plate appearances, and recorded just three hits (only one for extra bases) while striking out six times.
The Tigers sent Eldred back to the minor leagues after a week of action, where he resumed his hot hitting until the middle of June. At that point the Tigers granted him his release so he could pursue an opportunity in Japan with Hiroshima.
2016 marks Eldred’s sixth season with the Hiroshima Carp. He’s hit .259/.329/.508 with 89 home runs in his career with the Carp.