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Detroit Tigers: Can Casey McGehee Contribute?

By Griffin Fabits

Mar 7, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Casey McGehee (31) connects for an RBI single during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Casey McGehee (31) connects for an RBI single during a spring training game against the New York Mets at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Nick Castellanos out with an injury, will Casey McGehee be able to contribute as the Detroit Tigers’ everyday third baseman for the next few weeks?

It felt like it hurt the fans just as much as it hurt Nick Castellanos.

It didn’t, in reality, but as we watched Castellanos take Logan Verrett’s fastball straight to his left hand that ended in a non-displaced fracture in his fifth metacarpal, the Detroit Tigers were forced to scramble for another interim starter for the next month.

The Tigers placed Castellanos on the 15-day disabled list, and in a corresponding move, recalled veteran journeyman Casey McGehee from Triple-A Toledo. With the Hens this season, McGehee hit .322 with 49 RBI and an OPS of .825.

The numbers with Toledo were impressive and seemingly worthy of a call-up, but really stings at the expense of losing Castellanos for four to seven weeks.

And really, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Tigers had activated J.D. Martinez just three days before, and looked to continue their roll with all of their starters back.

Martinez made an immediate impact, homering off Cy Young favorite Chris Sale to straightaway center field, and ultimately delivered the go-ahead run in a 2-1 nail biter.

After sweeping Boston and Houston and winning the series against Chicago, the Tigers climbed their way to just two games behind Cleveland for first place in the American League Central.

And then, this happened.

Verrett’s fastball ran too far inside, and Castellanos became the latest victim of the injury-bug.”]

So, now, McGehee will get his shot at playing the hot corner everyday in a Tigers uniform. He isn’t necessarily expected to duplicate Castellanos’ line of .286/.331/.500, but anything relatively close to that is crucial as the Tigers gear up for a postseason run.

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McGehee’s track record shows he can be a hit or miss, but the Tigers can’t afford McGehee to whiff at the chance of playing everyday. Mimicking Castellanos’ numbers may not be expected, but are certainly hoped for.

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