Up-and-down Detroit return a microcosm of Turnbull's tenure

DETROIT -- Spencer Turnbull's second pitch back at Comerica Park ended up in the left-field seats, courtesy of Matt Vierling. It was a fitting snapshot of Wednesday afternoon, even if it went against the run of play in the Tigers’ 6-2 loss to the Phillies in the rubber match of their three-game series.

Vierling, a former Phillie, homered against his old squad and against a former Tiger teammate. Turnbull, a former Tigers Draft pick who made 60 starts over five years for the parent club, gave up his only damage in three innings to a former teammate who, himself, was facing a former club.

“We definitely scout him like any other pitcher,” Vierling said, “but I feel like when you're facing guys that you know, you just know the way they think a little bit more, you know what their mentality is like.”

It sounds almost as complicated as Turnbull’s situation with his old organization.

“I definitely can think about what he might be feeling after 10 years in the organization,” Vierling said. “This is all he knew up until this year. I can only imagine what was going through his mind the past couple days and then today. He had to be feeling it.”

He was.

“It's weird being back,” Turnbull said Monday, “but it's good. I'm happy where I'm at and I'm excited to be playing in Philly. It's definitely weird, bittersweet for sure, but it's good to be back.”

The last time Turnbull took the mound at Comerica Park, he was making his sixth start back from Tommy John surgery, having lost a year and a half to rehab. He lasted four innings against the Orioles on April 30 of last year, made one more start for the Tigers in St. Louis, then entered a roster vortex that began with an option to Triple-A Toledo, became a stint on the injured list and ended with a non-tender last fall.

“Last year was really hard, not a lot of fun,” Turnbull said. “It wasn't how I would've liked things to end here in Detroit, but it wasn't my choice how things went down. It's just kind of how it happened.”

If Turnbull left any baggage, it wasn’t evident in the fan reaction upon his return. The crowd gave him a friendly, positive reception upon his introduction, and that’s how it should be. After all, he threw the Tigers’ last complete-game no-hitter back in 2021, the highlight of his tenure.

“I enjoyed every time I had to pitch here in Detroit and put on the Olde English D,” Turnbull said. “It'll always hold a special place in my heart. I spent 10 years here [in the organization], got drafted here and called up here, threw a no-hitter here, but also went through some hard times with [Tommy John surgery] and other things. Sometimes, you need a fresh start somewhere else, just turn the page and get back to being the best version of yourself.”

The version the Tigers faced Wednesday was pretty good, though they didn’t see him long. Vierling’s 10th home run of the year was the only hit he allowed over three innings. He retired Vierling to end the third inning before leaving with right shoulder soreness after just 36 pitches of what was expected to be closer to a 70-pitch outing.

“I don’t know what it is about this place. I can’t seem to stay healthy here,” Turnbull said. “I don’t know if it’s a curse or what.”

There were spats of wildness with a couple walks, but any plans for the Tigers to wait Turnbull out were thwarted by eight called strikes.

It was indicative of Turnbull’s 2023 season and the Tigers’ current situation that the lineup he faced Wednesday featured nearly as many former teammates from Toledo (Colt Keith, Wenceel Pérez, Justyn-Henry Malloy) as from Detroit (Vierling, Riley Greene, Akil Baddoo, Ryan Kreidler).

Turnbull’s season was essentially split between Detroit and the farm system, with a neck injury sidelining him in between. The neck injury began during a mid-April start, he said, and was later confirmed by a specialist, nullifying his initial Minor League option. A toe injury briefly sidelined him again during his stint in Toledo in September. He was a free agent most of the offseason before signing with the Phillies near the start of Spring Training.

“Just a whirlwind, craziness,” Turnbull said, “but also a blessing in disguise. I'm really happy. It's worked out for me really well, for my family and everything.”