Faedo's first Opening Day 'not something you take lightly'

ST. PETERSBURG -- A club filled with “youthful exuberance,” as manager A.J. Hinch likes to say, has a lot to gain from the sobriety of battle scars.

That’s one of the elements the Tigers trust they will get from Alex Faedo, who is set to make the club’s Opening Day roster for the first time.

Hinch informed Faedo and Joey Wentz that they had made the team on Monday morning after weeks of stiff competition and difficult decisions for a club hoping to take a step forward in 2024. Adversity is no stranger to those two, which made this moment even more special.

“It’s really rewarding,” Faedo said ahead of the Tigers’ 3-3 tie with the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. “That’s another thing I can check off. You've made your debut, you got your first win, got some innings now under your belt. But it's nice to have something new that I can add to my accomplishments -- [my first] Opening Day. It's not something you take lightly. Every day in the big leagues isn't something you take lightly.”

Faedo knows that all too well.

The 28-year-old right-hander had uneven stints in the big leagues over the past two seasons, in large part due to injuries. Faedo twice landed on the injured list last year with blisters and nail problems on his right middle finger. A back strain, hip discomfort and Tommy John surgery sidelined him for lengthy periods of time before that.

But for the first offseason in a while, the 2017 first-round pick wasn’t rehabbing any ailments. That allowed him to go beyond strength and conditioning and focus on his stuff. He worked at Apex Performance in Arizona alongside Opening Day starter Tarik Skubal, and Faedo showed up to camp looking poised for a big league job out of the gate.

“Alex has been on the wrong side of this decision often,” said Hinch. “He spent all offseason addressing his explosiveness, addressing the grip of his changeup. He took it right into the game and started pitching with higher velo, higher intent, better swing-and-miss capabilities in and around the zone.

“He demonstrated that he definitely needed to be on this team.”

Faedo’s reaction to the news?

“I don't want to say I was surprised,” said Faedo. “But I just went in trying to stay even keel regardless. Because it’s exciting, but at the same time, we have 162 games [to go].”

Hinch’s recollection adds one detail.

“They all portray this stoic confidence that they need at this level,” Hinch said. “But it breaks them off. And he was very appreciative of the opportunity.”

Walking around the Tigers’ dugout, you’ll doubtlessly experience the youthful energy of an up-and-coming group. Handshakes are followed by a “Happy to be here.” Batting-practice homers bring loud cheers from teammates.

That’s where this team should be right now. But it’s also why having a guy like Faedo, who’s remained focused and collected through his early-career trials, can benefit the collective. Add a 1.35 Spring Training ERA and an ability to excel against righties and lefties as a long reliever, and the Tigers’ decision was made.

“He had to perform his way back to our team,” Hinch said. “And he was challenged with some really, really talented pitchers around him.”

The addition of Faedo and Wentz came with tough news for Beau Brieske, who will start the season at Triple-A Toledo, and Miguel Díaz, whom the Tigers now risk losing to waivers.

The decision came down to the wire. Bullpen configuration and Major League readiness emerged as two big factors, though it was difficult to overlook Brieske’s scoreless spring campaign.

“Two things can exist at the same time,” Hinch said of Brieske. “You can do really well, have a good offseason, pitch well in the spring and still not make the team. We said at the beginning of camp, it's a hard team to make. He's a perfect example of that.”

A start at Triple-A should allow Brieske to fine tune his secondary pitches to complement his electric fastball. But “he’s one phone call away,” per Hinch, and for now the Tigers will use that spot for another lefty in Wentz.

After struggling last season, the 26-year-old Wentz looked like a much-improved version of himself this spring, striking out 19 batters in 15 1/3 innings and showing better command of his fastball.

“Had he not done that work [in the offseason] … it may not have been a positive camp for him,” said Hinch. “But he did, and he performed well enough for us to want to continue the competition into the season with him on the team.”