Detroit Tigers 2021 season grades for the team’s bullpen

Detroit Tigers 2021 season grades for the rest of the bullpen.

Tyler Alexander: A

Let’s be honest. Tyler Alexander is the swiss army knife of this team’s bullpen. He’s available and useful in multiple roles and could start when needed. In 2022 he’s going to fight for a rotation spot; if not, he will be right back in the bullpen, providing quality outings whenever called upon. Alexander pitched to a 3.81 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP over 106.1 innings pitched, and was one of the Tigers’ best relief arms.

Derek Holland: C

Is anyone really surprised about Derek Holland‘s performance in 2021? He did about what was expected. He was a mop-up reliever and a bridge arm in some games. He pitched to a 5.07 ERA over 39 games. I’m not sure many fans would have expected much better, so for that reason, he gets a straight C as his season grade.

Bryan Garcia: F

The 2021 season was highly unkind to Bryan Garcia. He finished with a 7.55 ERA and was demoted to the minors. Odds are he will begin there again in 2022 and have to earn his way back onto the roster. It was a rough go for Garcia, and he certainly needs a reset after his poor showing in 2021.

Buck Farmer: D

It seemed like Buck Farmer was going to be one of the future bullpen pieces the Tigers carried from year to year. However, Farmer found himself getting Designated for Assignment and is now with the Rangers. He seemed to have lost some of the touch he had as a seventh or eighth inning guy with the Tigers.

Erasmo Ramirez: C

Similar to Holland from above, Erasmo Ramirez did essentially exactly what was acted and expected of him. He’s a veteran reliever who gets tossed into low-leverage situations and comes into mop-up innings. He posted a 5.74 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP while being nothing more than an innings eater.

Drew Hutchison: A-

Drew Hutchison re-invented himself this year. While the sample is small, the grade of an A- is deserved. Hutchison pitched in 9 games, making two starts, and he had a 2.11 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. If he could limit the number of walks, he could be even more valuable in a long-relief role.

That being said, the 2021 season is in the past and the 2022 Detroit Tigers bullpen is going to look vastly different by the time the 2022 season comes around. But, here are the final season grades to wrap up the 2021 season.