Detroit Tigers: Promoting Zack Short over Isaac Paredes is maddening

While Zack Short‘s appearance in the big leagues for the Detroit Tigers was over with quickly, the decision is still maddening. Even though Miguel Cabrera was going to return sooner than later, opting to leave Isaac Paredes in the minor leagues is a frustrating thing.

The Detroit Tigers are well immersed in a rebuild, and the front office is starting to test out prospects in different positions. Recently, it was Short who got the call. Short was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a last-minute trade deadline deal involving Cameron Maybin in 2020.

The 25-year-old “baseball rat,” as Al Avila refers to him, finally got his crack at the big leagues, but that was over with quite quickly. Miguel Cabrera’s return from the Injured List (IL) led to Short being sent back down to the alternate training site.

The frustration comes when Short is the “first man up” over Paredes, who deserves a shot after getting his looks in 2020. He logged 34 of the 60-game 2020 season in a Tigers uniform, and he should be back up with the team as much as possible.

It is frustrating to watch the Detroit Tigers promote Zack Short over Isaac Paredes.

Two games or not, choosing to bring Short up over Paredes is maddening. If Short was only brought up since they knew it would be a quick trip with Cabrera’s return looming, then sure, but Paredes should be the “next man up” from the alternate training site.

Short logged his two games with the Tigers; he went 1-for-5 with two walks and three strikeouts. He worked the count well in some of his at-bats, seeing 48 total pitches over his seven at-bats for the Tigers.

While he is now back at the alternate training site, Paredes should be getting the call to join the Tigers. I do not want to get things misconstrued; Short deserves his chances and deserves a look, but not now; the chances should be given to Paredes.

In 2020, Paredes 34-game stint after the monumental call-up alongside Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, he hit alright. He hit .220/.278/.290 with five extra-base hits, six RBI, eight walks, and striking out 24 times.

The thing with Paredes is that he is a defender who can play the left side of the infield. Before re-signing Jonathan Schoop this past offseason, it seemed that Paredes might even be getting some time in over at second base. The issue surely cannot be a positional one.

Saying it was a matter of small sample size is fair, but reading the call-up of Short with Paredes still not with the Tigers is frustrating. Hopefully, Paredes gets his call-up sooner than later.