The Detroit Tigers' bullpen has undergone some changes throughout the last week. Struggling relievers Beau Brieske and John Brebbia were optioned to the minors and designated for assignment, respectively, clearing space for the Tigers to claim veteran hurler Carlos Hernandez, who's looking for a fresh start after being waived by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Before being waived, Hernandez had pitched to an underwhelming 5.26 ERA and 1.753 WHIP in 25 relief outings with the Phillies. Despite that poor performance, Detroit's manager couldn't be more thrilled to be working with his bullpen's newest addition.
Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch Excited to Work with RHP Carlos Hernandez
Before Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch expressed his reaction to the club adding Hernandez, making it clear he's confident that the veteran reliever can turn things around.
"We're happy to get him," Hinch said, per Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. "We'll take a shot at untapping a lot of what he does well. It's a power fastball. He's got pretty good secondary pitches."
Hinch and the Tigers are well aware of what Hernandez can accomplish when he's on his game. The 28-year-old RHP spent five seasons with the AL Central's Kansas City Royals, so the familiarity is there. Hernandez's best performance in a Royals uniform came in 2023 when he pitched to a 3.30 ERA in 27 outings, and Detroit wouldn't mind if he returned to that form.
Having said that, Hinch knows the ex-Phillies arm is a work in progress, which is why he was waived in the first place.
"He's had a hard time maintaining consistency, which is what's made him available," Hinch admitted. "But he's really intriguing with what he brings to the table."
The Tigers didn't need Hernandez's help to beat the Pirates on Tuesday, leaving Wednesday as his next potential debut date. The Venezuelan pitcher has faced Pittsburgh five times (13 1/3 innings) throughout his six-year career, recording a 4.05 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
The Tigers have one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors, and Hernandez potentially returning to form could put the unit over the top. If that happens, Detroit's World Series outlook could look even more promising than it already does.