Brandon Inge #15

He, his wife Shani and sons Tyler Mason (10/6/04) and Samuel Chase (8/9/07) reside in Saline, MI in the off-season...All-Colonial Athletic Conference as a relief pitcher during his freshman season at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1996...posted a 6-2 record, 4.19 ERA and eight saves in 21 games on the mound...he hit .333 (68x204) with 34 runs, 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 41 RBI and six stolen bases...Played for Wayne in the Shenandoah Valley League during the summer of 1996...hit .322 (39x121) with 26 runs, four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases...Was an All-Colonial Athletic Association selection as both a shortstop and relief pitcher during his sophomore season in 1997...batted .343 (62x181) with 47 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 42 RBI and nine stolen bases...Named to the Cape Cod League's all-star squad during the summer of 1997 after hitting .265 (40x151) with 14 doubles, five home runs and 19 RBI for Bourne...Selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 1998 as he led his team to its second straight league title...All-Colonial Athletic Association as a relief pitcher in 1998...posted a 5-2 record, 2.09 ERA and 11 saves in 23 games ...batted .330 (70x212) with 68 runs, 21 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 61 RBI and 21 stolen bases...Led the conference with 68 runs, five triples and 11 saves as a junior in 1998...Named a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America in 1998...Batted .335 with 28 home runs and 144 RBI over his three-year career at VCU...Inducted into the Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics Hall of Fame on December 11, 2004...Had his high school jersey uniform number seven retired by Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA in 2006...Actively participates with Tigers Dreams Come True and the Detroit Tigers Autographed Memorabilia Donation Program, participates in Autographs for a Cause (donated funds to C.S. Mott Children's Hospital), served as a judge for the Comerica Bank Grand Slam Grant program providing a $10,000 grant to support a Michigan high school baseball/softball program and participated in the Tigers Winter Caravan...Recommended/signed by Rob Guzik for the Tigers.

2011

The longest-tenured Tigers player, he completed his 11th season with the club in 2011 -- saw action in 102 games, marking the fewest games he has played with the club since appearing in 95 games during the 2002 season...Saw action in 99 games at third base during the season, passing Tom Brookens (979) to move into third place in Tigers history with 997 games played at third base...Sidelined June 2-23 with mononucleosis -- joined Triple A Toledo for an injury rehabilitation assignment on June 16... hit .250 (7x28) with two home runs in seven games with the Mud Hens...Designated for assignment by the Tigers on July 21 -- had his contract outrighted to Toledo on July 26...Hit .361 (22x61) with four doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI over a 16-game stretch with Toledo July 26-August 12...Returned to Detroit for the remainder of the season after his contract was purchased from Toledo on August 20...Collected a season-high three hits on September 4 versus the Chicago White Sox -- equaled the high with three hits on September 12 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox...Batted .324 (11x34) in 21 games during September...Hit .245 (24x98) versus lefthanded pitchers...batted .170 (29x171) with righties on the mound...Batted .242 (15x62) in 35 games following the all-star break...hit .184 (38x207) in 67 games prior to the all-star break.

2010

Completed his 10th season at the major league level with the Tigers in 2010, belting 10-or-more home runs for the seventh consecutive season. ...Led all American League third basemen with a .977 fielding percentage. ...Ninth in the American League with 134 strikeouts. ...Tabbed the third-best defensive third baseman in the American League by Baseball America. ...Saw action in 144 games at third base during the season, passing Travis Fryman (768), Bob Jones (774), George Kell (826) and Mike Higgins (842) to move into fourth place in Tigers history with 898 games played at third base. ...Equaled a career high with two home runs on April 26 at Texas. ...Compiled a season-high 10-game hitting streak June 3-15, batting .350 (14x40). ...Sidelined July 20-August 4 with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand -- saw action in one game with Single A West Michigan on August 3 as part of an injury rehabilitation assignment. ...Batted .326 (15x46) with five doubles, two triples and 10 RBI in 13 games during July. ...Collected the 1,000th hit of his major league career on August 24 versus Kansas City, a single in the fourth inning off Kyle Davies -- became the 29th player in Tigers history to collect 1,000 hits with the franchise. ...Hit .288 (74x257) in 72 games at home...batted .206 (53x257) in 72 games on the road.

2009

Returned to third base for the Tigers in 2009, being selected to the American League's all-star squad for the first time in his career as he established a career high with 84 RBI and matched a career high with 27 home runs...Won the All-Star Game Final Vote, establishing an American League record with 11.8 million votes...Tied for the American League lead with 161 games played...second in the league with 170 strikeouts...Hit by a pitch 17 times during the season, tied for second-most in the American League -- tied for the fifth-most times a Tigers player has been hit by a pitch in a single season, matching Heinie Manush (1923)...Topped all American League third baseman with 444 total chances and 143 putouts...Rated as possessing the best infield arm in the American League by Baseball America...Saw action in 161 games at third base during the season, passing George Moriarty (633) and Marv Owen (717) to move into eighth place in Tigers history with 754 games played at third base...Homered in each of the Tigers first three games of the season April 6-8 -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first Tigers player to ever do so...Reached base safely in each of his first 24 games of the season April 6-May 3 -- marked the longest such streak by a Tigers player to begin a season since Ron LeFlore reached base in 30 straight games to open the 1976 season...Connected for his 100th career home run on April 12 versus Texas, a solo shot in the eighth inning off C.J. Wilson...Played in his 1,000th career game on April 13 versus the Chicago White Sox...Belted his seventh home run of the season on April 26 at Kansas City and, according to the Elias Sports Bureau he became the fifth player in Tigers history with at least seven home runs in the club's first 18 games of the season -- Cecil Fielder (1996) and Chris Shelton (2006) hit nine nine through the first 18 games, while Inge joined Norm Cash (1962), Al Kaline (1962) and Fielder (1992) with seven...Tabbed the Tigers Player of the Month for April after hitting .319 (22x69) with 17 runs scored, three doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBI in 21 games during the month -- tied for fourth in the American League with seven home runs during April, while he finished fifth with a .447 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage...Belted his fourth career grand slam on May 15 versus Oakland -- equaled a career high with five RBI...Belted a game-winning, two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning on June 28 at Houston to lead the Tigers to a 4-3 win -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the sixth major league player in 2009 to hit a go-ahead home run with his team one out away from a loss and the first Tigers player to do so since Craig Monroe belted a gamewinning, three-run home run in a 5-3 win over New York at Yankee Stadium on August 30, 2006...Selected the Tigers Player of the Month for June after batting .287 (27x94) with three doubles, a triple, six home runs and 19 RBI in 28 games -- tied for ninth in the American League with 19 RBI during the month... Equaled a career high with two home runs on July 12 versus Cleveland...Connected for his fourth career walk-off home run on August 14 versus Kansas City to lead the Tigers to a 1-0 win -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time the Tigers have won a game with the only runs being scored on a game-ending home run since May 19, 1989 versus Kansas City when Lou Whitaker belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Detroit's 2-0 win...additionally, it marked the first time the Tigers have posted a 1-0 win at home in walk-off fashion since May 13, 1981 versus Seattle when Ricky Peters singled in the bottom of the ninth inning to plate Kirk Gibson with the winning run...Belted his fifth career grand slam on September 6 at Tampa Bay -- the grand slam led the Tigers back from a 3-1 deficit to a 5-3 win in the ninth inning...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first Tigers player to hit a grand slam in the ninth inning-or-later which turned a deficit into a lead since Lou Whitaker did so in the ninth inning at Tiger Stadium on June 21, 1994 versus Cleveland to lead the Tigers to a 7-5 win after they trailed 5-3...Hit .500 (9x18) with 24 RBI when batting with the bases loaded...Batted .268 (80x299) with 21 home runs in 86 games prior to the all-star break -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he joined Dean Palmer (22 home runs at the all-star break in 1999) as the only two third basemen in club history to hit 20-or-more home runs prior to the all-star break...hit .186 (49x263) with six home runs in 75 games following the allstar break...Underwent surgery to address the chronic patellar tendinitis in both of his knees that plagued him throughout the season on November 3, a procedure performed by Dr. Stephen Lemos at the Detroit Medical Center -- the procedure involved the debridement and repair of the patellar tendon in both his left and right knees.

2008

Completed his eighth season with the Tigers in 2008, showing his versatility as he saw action at four positions: catcher (60 games), third base (51 games), left field (two games) and center field (13 games)...Played in 113 games for the Tigers, marking his fewest with the club since he played in 104 games in 2003...Did not commit an error in his first 110 games of the season March 31-September 26...Sidelined June 23-July 10 with a pulled oblique -- saw action in three games with Triple A Toledo during an injury rehab assignment July 7-9, batting .300 (3x10) with a home run and four RBI...Became the Tigers primary catcher following the trade of Ivan Rodriguez to the New York Yankees on July 30 -- started behind the plate in 33 of the club's next 42 games before returning to third base...Batted .238 (43x181) with eight home runs in 60 games at Comerica Park...hit .169 (28x166) with three home runs in 53 games on the road...Second among all American League catchers with 11 passed balls.

2007

Completed his third full season as Detroit's primary third baseman...Topped all American League third basemen with 424 total chances and 325 assists, while he tied for the lead with 18 errors...Hit by a pitch 11 times, tied for ninth-most in the league...Fourth in the league with 150 strikeouts...Rated as possessing the second-best infield arm in the American League by Baseball America...Swiped a career-high two bases on April 14 at Toronto...Batted .373 (19x51) over a 15-game stretch May 6-22, scoring 11 runs and collecting four doubles, four home runs and nine RBI...Sustained a small chip fracture of his left great toe after being hit by a pitch on May 29 at Tampa Bay -- missed five games before returning to action on June 5 at Texas...Collected a career-high five RBI on June 10 versus the New York Mets...Hit .343 (24x70) with 15 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI in 21 games during June -- 10th in the American League during the month with a .440 onbase percentage and tied for 11th with 19 RBI...Established a career high with three doubles on August 27 versus the New York Yankees...Tied for seventh in the American League with two triples during August...Hit safely in a season-high seven straight games September 4-10, batting .435 (10x23) with a double, two home runs and five RBI...Connected for a solo home run on September 6 versus the Chicago White Sox -- his first home run since July 21 versus Kansas City, snapping a stretch of 135 at-bats without a home run...Hit .333 (37x111) against lefthanded pitchers -- 10th in the American League with a .419 on-base percentage against lefties...batted .209 (83x297) with righties on the mound...Seventh in the American League with 4.23 pitches per plate appearance.

2006

Established career highs with 83 runs scored, 27 home runs and 83 RBI with the Tigers...Connected for 27 home runs at third base this season, the most by a Tigers third baseman since Dean Palmer hit 38 home runs in 1999...Rated as possessing the second-best infield arm in the American League and named the third-best defensive third baseman by Baseball America...Belted a lead-off home run on April 6 at Texas -- fifth career lead-off home run...Equaled a career high with two home runs on April 14 versus Cleveland -- connected for two home runs on June 18 at Chicago's Wrigley Field against the Cubs to match the high...Tied for ninth in the American League with seven home runs during May -- batted .220 (20x91) with 19 RBI in 28 games during the month...Hit safely in 11-of-12 games July 13-25, batting .439 (18x41) with 12 runs scored, four doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI...Collected four RBI on July 25 at Cleveland, matching a career high -- equaled the high with four RBI on September 15 versus Baltimore...Belted his third career grand slam on September 15 versus Baltimore, connecting against Sendy Rleal...Managed a .221 batting average (65x294) in 85 games prior to the all-star break...batted .290 (72x248) in 74 games following the all-star break...Led all American League third basemen with 555 total chances and 398 assists, while he was second with 22 errors and third with 135 putouts -- established a franchise record for assists by a third baseman...Collected three hits in Game One of the American League Championship Series on October 10 at Oakland, matching the club record for hits in a league championship series game.

2005

Established career highs in nearly every offensive category for the Tigers, including games played (160), at-bats (616), runs scored (75), hits (161), total bases (258), doubles (31), triples (9), home runs (16), RBI (72) and stolen bases (7)...Fifth in the American League with nine triples and tied for eighth with 160 games played...second in the league with 140 strikeouts...His 160 games played at third base were the most by a Tigers third baseman since Aurelio Rodriguez played in 160 games during the 1973 season...Equaled a career best with a 13-game hitting streak April 13-28, batting .365 (19x52) with 12 runs scored, two doubles, two triples, a home run and nine RBI...In 22 games during April, he hit .333 (27x81) with 17 runs scored, three doubles, three triples, two home runs and 13 RBI -- ninth in the American League with a .419 on-base percentage during the month, while he tied for 11th with 17 runs scored and tied for 12th with a .333 batting average...Led off the game on May 7 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim with a home run off Jarrod Washburn of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, his first career lead-off home run -- led off the game with a home run three more times during the season: May 31 versus Texas (Kenny Rogers), June 18 versus San Francisco (Kirk Rueter) and July 18 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox (Orlando Hernandez)...Tied for eighth in the league with 32 hits and 15 walks during May -- hit .294 (32x109) with 15 runs scored, six doubles, two triples, three home runs and 10 RBI in 27 games...Cleared the center field fence at Comerica Park with a home run on June 14 versus San Diego -- cleared the fence two more times during the season (June 18 versus San Francisco and September 26 against the Chicago White Sox) to become the first player to homer three times to center field at Comerica Park...Did not play on July 26 at Seattle, snapping his 141 consecutive games played streak dating back to August 20, 2004...Belted two home runs on September 26 versus the Chicago White Sox to match a career high...Matched a career best with four hits versus the Chicago White Sox on September 29...Hit .292 (87x308) in 80 games at Comerica Park...in 80 games on the road, he batted .240 (74x308)...Batted .285 (85x298) with a .371 on-base percentage when hitting in the lead-off spot -- fourth in the league with the .371 on-base percentage...Averaged 4.00 pitches per plate appearance, 11th-most in the league...Fanned once every 4.96 plate appearances, ninth-highest in the league...Topped all league third basemen with 530 total chances, 378 assists and 23 errors, while he was second with 129 putouts...His 530 total chances at third base are seventh-most in Tigers history and the most since Aurelio Rodriguez posted 536 total chances in 1975...most total chances by a major league third baseman since Robin Ventura accepted 536 total chances for the Chicago White Sox in 1992...His 378 assists at third base are third-most in franchise history and the most since Aurelio Rodriguez established the club record with 389 in 1974...Participated in 42 double plays at third base, the most in Tigers history -- also, the most by a major league third baseman since Cincinnati's Aaron Boone participated in 42 double plays in 2002.

2004

Established career highs in nearly every offensive category for the Tigers and displayed versatility by seeing action as the catcher (39), at third base (73), in left field (seven), center field (19) and right field (two)...Tied for seventh in the American League with seven triples...Posted a 10-game hitting streak April 15-24, batting .455 (15x33) with eight runs scored, two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI...Belted his first career grand slam on April 23 versus Cleveland's Jason Anderson...added a second grand slam on April 27 against Anaheim's Scot Shields -- tied for fourth in the league with two grand slams...equaled a career high with four RBI in both games...Became the first major leaguer since Kansas City's Roger Maris on August 3, 1958 versus Washington to triple and hit a grand slam in the same inning after pulling off the feat in the sixth inning April 23 versus Cleveland...Collected three outfield assists April 27 versus Anaheim, two from left field and one from center field -- first major league outfielder with three assists in a single game since Florida's Mark Kotsay on July 16, 2000 at Baltimore...In 18 games during April, he hit .333 (18x54) with nine runs scored, two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 15 RBI -- tied for 16th in the league with his .333 batting average during the month...Did not commit an error in 38 consecutive games May 1-June 23, a stretch of 151 total chances at catcher, third base, in left field, center field and right field...Slumped to a .235 batting average (16x68) in 21 games during May, before he rebounded to hit .372 (16x43) in 20 games during June -- fourth in the league with a .372 batting average in June...Scratched from the lineup on June 26 versus Arizona due to a right hand injury resulting from being hit during a sacrifice bunt attempt on June 25 against Arizona...X-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of his right index finger and he was placed on the disabled list retroactive to June 26 with the injury on June 27...After being reinstated from the disabled list on July 15, he played in 72 of the club's final 75 games...Established a career best with four hits July 26 at Cleveland...matched the high with four hits at Anaheim on August 13...His .226 on-base percentage in 15 games during July was fifth-lowest in the league -- hit .204 (10x49) during the month...In 27 games during August, he batted .306 (26x85) with three doubles, two triples, a home run and 13 RBI...Recorded a career-high 13-game hitting streak September 3-17, batting .365 (19x52) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and nine RBI...Hit .286 (28x98) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 12 RBI in 27 games during September...Batted .327 (55x168) with lefties on the mound, compared to .258 (62x240) against righthanded pitchers...Hit .284 (31x109) with runners in scoring position...Batted .455 (5x11) with 18 RBI when hitting with the bases loaded -- tied for 11th in the league with his 18 RBI...Hit .319 (68x213) when playing third base, compared to .238 (29x122) when catching and .257 (18x70) when playing in the outfield...Tied for eighth among league third basemen with 12 errors.

2003

Continued to exhibit solid defense and spotty offense in his third season with the Tigers...set career highs with a .203 batting average, 32 runs, 67 hits, eight home runs and 30 RBI...Made two errors in 569 total chances (.996 fielding percentage)...went 305 chances without an error before one on June 17 versus Cleveland...Was second among American League catchers with his .996 fielding percentage...first in the AL with .70 assists per nine innings (67/867.1IP)...Began the season with three hits in his first 11 games, going 3x33 (.111) with a walk and nine strikeouts...Batted .155 (11x71) with 18 strikeouts in 25 games during the month of May...Snapped an 0x14 hitless streak with a two-run homer off Omar Daal on May 7 at Baltimore -- added another homer later in the game off Daal for the first two-homer game of his career...Collected three extra-base hits (2B, 2-HR) in 10 at-bats over three games May 7-10 after failing to connect for one in his first 71 at-bats (25 games)...Knocked in game-winning run with solo home run on May 26 versus Cleveland -- first Comerica Park homer in 121 at-bats (July 15, 2002 versus Boston)...Snapped an 0x10 streak with a two-run home run on June 6 at San Francisco...first road home run since June 25, 2002 at Kansas City...Optioned to Triple A Toledo on June 18, he batted .275 (39x142) with nine doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in 39 games for the Mud Hens...Hit in 29 of his 39 games at Toledo, including an eight-game hitting streak July 10-21 (.419, 13x31)...hit in 15-of-16 games July 2-21 (.339, 20x59), and 18-of-20 July 2-25 (.324, 24x74)...Hit safely in 29 of his 45 games with an at-bat after being recalled from Toledo on August 6 (.258, 42x163), with 19 runs, 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 19 RBI...Career-high 12-game hit streak ended on August 21 versus Anaheim -- longest by club catcher since 1998 (Joe Oliver, 13 games April 28-May 22)...Smashed a Troy Percival offering for a walk-off home run on August 24 versus Anaheim to lift the Tigers to a 10-9 victory...Sparked five-run rally in fifth inning on August 27 at Cleveland with solo home run -- Tigers lost 9-7...After batting .325 (27x83) in August, hit just .188 (15x80) in the season's final month...Set a career high with his eighth home run in a 7-4 loss on September 1 versus Cleveland...Posted seven hitless streaks of 10-or-more at-bats during 2003...Batted .245 ( 27x110) versus lefthanded pitchers and .182 ( 40x220) versus righthanders...Last in the AL with a .174 batting average (23x132) with runners on base...was tied for second-to-last in the AL in batting average with runners in scoring position (.136, 6x44)...Finished fourth in the AL with a 30.0 percent caught stealing percentage ( 30x100)...Topped all AL catchers with 11 double plays turned...Batted .407 (11x27) when putting the first pitch in play... Combined to bat .187 ( 29x155) with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and seven RBI in 47 games versus AL Central foes...Averaged 4.06 pitches seen per plate appearance -- tops on the team...was one of two Tigers with averages over four (Kevin Witt - 4.03).

2002

Did not break camp with the Tigers, but worked diligently to become the Tigers regular catcher after an April 22 recall...finished the season appearing in 95 games, with 93 starts behind the plate -- the most by a Tigers catcher since Brad Ausmus started 140 games in 2000...Batted .231 (9x39) with two triples, two home runs and four RBI in 13 games at Triple A Toledo prior to his recall...Named the best defensive catcher in the International League by Baseball America...Hit safely in his first six games with Detroit (.455, 10x22) and 12 of his first 17 games (.317, 19x60)...Drilled his first major league homer, a solo shot off Brad Radke in the fourth, in his first start of 2002 with the Tigers in a 5-4 win on April 28 versus Minnesota...Collected a career-high three hits on April 30 versus Kansas City in his first career start as designated hitter...went 3x5 with an RBI and two runs...Departed the game on May 11 at Texas in the sixth inning with a dislocated left shoulder -- placed on 15-day disabled list the following day...Went 8x26 (.308) with two doubles, two triples, a homer, four runs and nine RBI in eight rehab games with Toledo from May 17-25...Drew three walks on June 15 at Arizona -- had a total of five in his first 25 games prior to game...were first walks since May 29, a span of 15 games...Provided the Tigers only run June 28 versus Pittsburgh with solo home run in the seventh inning (3-1 loss)...home run on June 21 at Florida was also only run in 4-1 loss...Snapped an 0x15 slump on July 15 versus Boston as he accounted for all four of the Tigers runs in a 4-3 win -- was first career four-RBI game...launched a two-run home run to left-center in the seventh, tied the game in the ninth with a sacrifice fly and provided game-winning infield single in the 11th...was his 7th home run and first non-solo shot...Collected two hits on July 27 at Cleveland to extend hit streak to career-high eight games (.387, 12x31)...streak ended the following day at Cleveland with an 0x4 performance...Struggled at the plate in August, batting .118 (8x68) with nine walks and 26 strikeouts...Allowed four stolen bases on August 1 at Oakland...Snapped an 0x16 skid with a run-scoring single in the ninth inning on August 23 versus Oakland...Went 2x36 (.056) in the season's final month...Fanned three times on September 5 at New York -- had five three-strikeout games in 2002...led the team with 101 strikeouts...struck out multiple times in 30 games...Snapped an 0x24 skid with a double on September 17 versus Minnesota -- second-longest hitless streak by a Tiger in 2002 (Damion Easley, 0x25, June 7-21)...Dislocated left shoulder in fifth inning on September 21 versus New York...Twenty-five of his 65 hits (38.5 percent) were for extra-bases (15-2B, 3-3B, 7-HR)...Started 85 of the Tigers last 113 games behind the plate...Tigers pitching posted a 4.74 ERA (820.1IP/432ER) with him behind the plate...Second in the AL in fielding percentage by a catcher at .998...Anaheim's Bengie Molina ranked first at .999...Was third among AL catchers with an average of 0.52 assists per nine innings...Threw out 13-of-57 baserunners attempting to steal (22.8 percent)...Tied for third in AL with 10 passed balls...Batted .252 (38x151) with six home runs and 13 RBI prior to the all-star break; posted a .159 batting average (27x170) with one home run and 11 RBI after the break...Had 10 hits in his last 104 at-bats (.096) of the season to drop batting average from .253 to its final .202...Averaged 4.21 pitches per plate appearance, tops on the team...Twenty-six of the last 34 baserunners attempting to steal against him were successful (76.5 percent)...Underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair his left shoulder on October 9, a procedure performed by Dr. Kyle Anderson in Detroit.

2001

Made his major league debut with the Tigers in 2001...was the starting catcher before going down with a dislocated left shoulder on June 24...spent August with Triple A Toledo before rejoining the Tigers September 1...threw out 42.3 percent of runners attempting to steal (22-of-52), tops among Tigers catchers...Was the Tigers Opening Day catcher...went 0x2 but nailed two baserunners in his major league debut April 2 versus Minnesota...Doubled April 6 at Chicago for his first major league hit...went 2x5 with an RBI and allowed three stolen bases...Went 2x3 with an RBI April 7 at Chicago...drilled his second double April 12 versus Cleveland, going 2x3 with a run scored...Hit safely in six-of-eight games April 6-17 (.346, 9x26)...Allowed four stolen bases and two passed balls over a four-game span April 13-19...threw out three runners in two games April 18-19 versus the White Sox...Doubled in back-to-back games April 21-22 at Cleveland...five-of-14 hits in April were two-baggers...Went 2x3 with a double, two RBI and a sacrifice bunt April 19 versus Tampa Bay...Threw out two runners May 9 versus Texas...was 1x3 with two RBI in that game...Also nailed two runners May 12 versus Anaheim, going 1x2 at the plate...Posted his sixth multi-hit game May 19 at Tampa Bay, going 2x5 with a run scored...Collected two doubles June 2 against the White Sox at Comiskey as he went 2x3 and scored a run...Was just 2x20 (.100) in his next 13 games, both singles, with four RBI and two walks...Allowed a season-high five stolen bases June 13 versus Pittsburgh including two sets of double steals...Suffered a dislocated left shoulder during a head-first slide into home on June 24...placed on 15-day DL June 25...Began a rehab assignment with the GCL Tigers on July 25...went 1x10 (.100) in three games for the Tigers, drilling a two-run homer July 27 against the GCL Royals...Continued his rehab stint with four games at Single A West Michigan July 29-August 1...hit .188 (3x16) with a double and two RBI...Joined Toledo on August 2...played in four games, going 2x14 (.143) with the Mud Hens before being reinstated from the DL and optioned to Toledo on August 6...Doubled, scored and drove in a run August 6 versus Charlotte in Game 1...drove in two with a pinch-hit single in Game 2...Posted a 12-game hitting streak (.500, 17x34) in his first 13 games for the Mud Hens August 5-17...collected two home runs, seven doubles and 10 RBI during that span...Was 3x3 with two doubles and an RBI August 7 versus Charlotte...doubled with two RBI August 8 versus Charlotte...Notched doubles in back-to-back games August 10-11...was 2x4 with an RBI August 10 versus Durham and 1x3 August 11 at Charlotte...Launched a solo home run August 12 at Charlotte...also homered August 17 versus Louisville...Went 2x5 with a double, a triple and two RBI August 24 at Columbus...Nailed three runners attempting to steal and went 3x6 with a double and RBI August 27 versus Columbus...Was successful in stopping nine-of-19 stolen base attempts (47.4 percent)...Recalled from Toledo September 1 and appeared as a defensive replacement that afternoon at Toronto...Went 2x3 September 9 versus Toronto...was 0x21 over his next six games with no walks and six strikeouts...Fanned a season-high three times September 23 at Boston...struck out seven times in four games (15 AB) September 21-26...Had just two hits (.053, 2x38) during his final 13 games of the season for the Tigers without driving in a run...Hit .107 (6x56) with two RBI and 14 strikeouts over 21 games in September/October...Of opponents 103 stolen bases against the Tigers, only 30 came against Inge (29 percent)...Fourth in the AL with 10 passed balls allowed...Managed just a .164 average (22x134) against lefthanded pitching...was 12x93 (.129) with an 0-2 count...Tigers pitchers posted a 4.89 ERA (292ER/537.2IP) with Inge behind the plate...Danny Patterson carried a 1.69 ERA (5ER/26.2IP) in tandem with Inge, while Victor Santos benefitted with a 1.20 ERA (4ER/30.0IP)...Made 60 starts at catcher for the Tigers in 2001 and appeared in 79 total games.

2000

Opened the season with Double A Jacksonville before being promoted to Triple A Toledo in July; appeared in 133 games between the two levels...Posted a season-high eight-game hitting streak April 15-24, batting .500 (16x32) with five runs, five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 16 RBI...Collected an RBI in 10 consecutive games April 15-26, totaling 19 RBI...Drove in a season-high five runs, belting a grand slam, against Birmingham April 21...Named the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for April, hitting .353 (30x85) with 14 runs, 11 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 24 RBI in 22 games...Finished with a season-high four hits and matched a season-high with five RBI versus Carolina May 5...Hit safely in nine-of-10 games May 14-24, batting .351 (13x37) with six runs, six doubles, a home run and two RBI...Selected to the Southern League's mid- and post-season all-star squads...Participated in the Futures Game held at Turner Field in Atlanta prior to the Major League All-Star Game...Named the best defensive catcher in the Southern League; led all league catchers with a .990 fielding percentage...Terrorized lefthanders in the Southern League, hitting .347 (25x72) with nine doubles and two home runsb&batted .230 (52x226) against righties...Had multiple hits in 24 of his 78 games with Jacksonville...Hit .307 (27x88) with 48 RBI when batting with runners in scoring position for the Suns...batted .366 (15x41) with 25 RBI when batting with runners in scoring position and two outs...Struggled following his promotion to Toledo, hitting .221 (42x190) in 55 games...Homered and notched three RBI at Charlotte July 28 and 31...Hit safely in nine-of-11 games August 11-23, batting .256 (10x39) with four runs, three doubles, a homer and five RBI...Reached safely via a hit in six-of-eight games to end the season, August 28-September 4...batted .265 (9x34) with eight runs, three doubles, a triple, a home run and four RBI...Batted .266 (33x124) with three home runs against righthanders in the International League...hit .136 (10x66) with lefties on the mound.

1999

Spent his second year in professional baseball with West Michigan in1999, making 95 starts behind the plate after being converted from shortstop to catcher in 1998...Collected a season-high four hits on May 23 at Clinton...Compiled a 12-game hitting streak June 10-26, tying for the team's longest streak in 1999...batted .350 (14x40) in that stretch with eight doubles, two homers and 12 RBI...Drilled a grand slam on July 14 against South Bend, collecting a season-high four RBI...Led Midwest League catchers with 114 assists...posted a .990 fielding percentage, committing eight errors.

1998

Made his professional debut in 1998 with Single A Jamestown as he was converted from a shortstop to a backstop...Hit .230 in 51 games and made 35 starts behind the plate...Led the Jammers in several offensive categories, including doubles (10), home runs (8) and RBI (29); finished third on the team with 44 hits...Swiped eight bases but was also caught stealing eight times.