LAKELAND, Fla. -- The last time Trevor Rosenthal faced Major League hitters, he was pitching in the 2020 NLCS at Globe Life Field in Texas. Corey Seager was among the Dodgers hitters he faced, and the Padres relievers who pitched before him included Luis Patiño and Matt Strahm. That was 2 1/2 years and two major injuries ago -- thoracic outlet syndrome in his arm, then a tear in his left hamstring during a comeback attempt in Triple-A last summer.

In that context, Sunday was a starting point for Rosenthal, who signed with the Tigers three weeks ago and has previously been throwing live batting practice. His 20-pitch outing in Sunday’s 11-10 win over the Rays showed the work he has to do. The Tigers’ bullpen struggles for much of this spring showed there’s a place for Rosenthal if he can do it.

“It was his first time out against competition outside of a controlled environment,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I thought his arm strength was good, and he had a chance to break a sweat and get into some game action and get to a pitch count he was comfortable with. But I don’t take a lot away from it other than it was nice to get him into a game before we left camp.”

Those who remember Rosenthal’s previous Tigers tenure in 2019 as a wild, hard-throwing stopper might have had trouble recognizing him Sunday, beyond the jersey number switch to 40. His first-pitch fastball came in at 93.6 miles per hour, according to Statcast, and while he warmed up to 96 mph by his final batter, he did not flash the triple-digit velocity he was known for before his injuries. That’s not a surprise.

On the flip side, Rosenthal threw strikes, something he struggled to do consistently the last time he wore the Olde English D, and a reason the Tigers parted ways that summer after a few weeks. Fifteen of his 20 pitches Sunday went for strikes, and he didn’t reach a three-ball count. His misses were generally in the zone or just off, rather than all over the place.

“I felt really good, thought I commanded the ball well, was able to mix all my pitches and work with runners on,” Rosenthal said. “Good first step, for sure.”

The next step, beyond building up the arm, will be to get more swings and misses. All but two of those strikes were either fouled off or put in play. His aforementioned first-pitch fastball was his lone called strike, while he had a swinging strike on a pitch later in his outing that registered as an 89 mph cutter on Statcast.

All that contact brought a price, with two runs on four hits. Most weren’t hard-struck as much as they were well-placed, like Jonathan Aranda’s RBI bloop single on Rosenthal’s 20th and final pitch. Francisco Mejía, who homered earlier in the game off starter Edwin Uceta, doubled to right-center past a diving Riley Greene for the lone extra-base hit. Randy Arozarena’s ensuing ground-ball RBI single was the hardest hit of the bunch at 106.9 mph.

Rosenthal is expected to continue his build-up at Triple-A Toledo, where the Mud Hens’ season begins Friday. It’ll essentially be treated like Spring Training minus the warm weather, with his outings scripted by days and length. As Hinch said previously this spring, given Rosenthal’s recent injury history, Detroit would rather pitch him in one too many outings to be ready than one too few. 

“And then,” Hinch said Sunday, “we’ll unleash the beast.”

If Rosenthal progresses to that point as hoped, he could give the Tigers a much-needed veteran at the back end of their bullpen, where they’ve lost Michael Fulmer, Gregory Soto, Andrew Chafin and Joe Jiménez since last year’s Trade Deadline. Before the injuries, Rosenthal had signed with the A’s for $11 million as a closer.

Miggy ends last Spring Training with key to city
Normally, Spring Training pregame ceremonies are for prospects or locals. But as Miguel Cabrera prepared for his final Grapefruit League game on Sunday, the Tigers held a ceremony during which Lakeland city officials presented him with a key to the city.

“That was really cool,” Hinch said. “The whole team was out for the ceremony. We’re going to celebrate him in a lot of places. Watching him get a key to the city and the warm reception, even the last at-bat, it was nice to see Miggy loved as usual.”

Next week’s plans
While most clubs either play one more Spring Training game or an exhibition in another city on Monday, the Tigers’ spring schedule is done. They’ll have a simulated game Monday at their complex to give Matt Manning one more outing, then head to St. Petersburg ahead of Opening Day on Thursday against the Rays at Tropicana Field.