The Tigers are playing it safe with reliever Connor Seabold, who finds himself on the 15-day injured list following an MRI on his left ankle. To fill the void, they’ve summoned right-hander Brenan Hanifee from Triple-A Toledo.
Seabold himself seemed optimistic about his condition, saying, “I’m not worried about it,” and suggested that the team wasn’t overly concerned either. However, the Tigers are being cautious, aiming to prevent any further aggravation of the injury. With the bullpen having shouldered 10.1 innings over the past two days, the team needs all hands on deck for Sunday’s game.
Manager AJ Hinch noted the strain on the bullpen but expressed confidence in his players’ ability to bounce back, especially with a day off looming on Monday. “We had a heavy day (Saturday), but these guys can post again,” Hinch remarked.
Seabold’s injury occurred during Saturday night’s game when he slipped mid-pitch, describing the incident as feeling like “one spike caught and the rest didn’t.” It was an awkward moment that left him uncertain whether he jammed or overextended his ankle.
Enter Brenan Hanifee, a familiar face in the Tigers’ bullpen over the last two seasons and one of the final roster cuts in spring training. Hanifee has been turning heads in Toledo, delivering eight scoreless outings out of ten and maintaining a clean sheet in his last three appearances. His recent performances make him a promising addition to the Tigers’ pitching lineup as they navigate this challenging stretch.