DETROIT -- It's safe to say Jeff Ferrell won't be upset with missing out on Triple-A Toledo's series in Charlotte, N.C., his birthplace, this coming week. Instead, Ferrell rejoined the Tigers, who selected his contract ahead of Sunday's matinee against the Twins at Comerica Park. Ferrell pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout in Detroit's 6-4 loss.
It wasn't Ferrell's first crack at the Majors. The 26-year-old had a 6.35 ERA in nine appearances (11 1/3 innings) with Detroit in 2015. The Tigers released him last August, but he was determined to return and get another opportunity.
"They've been with me the whole time, and they gave me a chance up here," said Ferrell, who was a 26th-round pick by the Tigers in 2010. "So I wanted to come back here and obviously get healthy and show them I was good to go again."
Ferrell has returned to the Majors, backed by results in 2017 that earned him a spot. He's 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in Toledo, including 51 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. While he typically mixes just fastballs and changeups, he's added a slider and is using it in low-leverage situations.
"I had a slider when I first got drafted," Ferrell said. "That was my best pitch. I actually tore my [ulnar collateral ligament] on it …started throwing a curveball, kind of lost feel for that. Now I'm back with the slider."
In a corresponding move, the Tigers designated veteran reliever Edward Mujica for assignment. Mujica, who's pitched for seven teams in his 11 seasons, signed with Detroit in January. He had a 9.95 ERA in his five appearances, all in August, and allowed four home runs. For the time being, Detroit is left with one open spot on its 40-man roster.
Worth noting
• Daniel Norris will begin his rehab assignment for Toledo on Wednesday in Charlotte. Norris will be on a pitch count of approximately 45 pitches, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. Ausmus added that Norris will need "at least three" rehab outings to stretch out his pitch count enough to return to the Majors.
•The Tigers waited about an hour and a half longer than usual to release their lineup before Sunday's game, waiting on the status of Jose Cabrera and Ian Kinsler. In the end, both were kept out of the starting lineup. Cabrera, who left Saturday's game with lower back/hip tightness, was replaced at first by John Hicks. Kinsler, who was hit on the left wrist with a pitch Saturday but stayed in the game, was replaced by Andrew Romine.