4 prospects added to Tigers' player pool
DETROIT -- The Tigers on Thursday added four prospects to their player pool, providing an opportunity to get some late-season training and instruction at the team’s alternate training site in Toledo, Ohio.
Outfielder Parker Meadows, the No. 13 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s Tigers prospect rankings, was added along with right-handers Jason Foley, Alex Lange and Logan Shore. Infielder Zack Short was also added on Thursday following his arrival from the Cubs' system in the Cameron Maybin trade.
Lange, who ended last season as a reliever at Double-A Erie, was briefly part of the Tigers' Summer Camp and pitched in intrasquad action while Detroit was waiting on several pitchers to clear COVID protocol. Because Lange had replaced a player on the COVID injured list in Summer Camp, he was eligible to be removed from the player pool and added again.
General manager Al Avila mentioned earlier in the week that additions would be coming after the Trade Deadline. The Tigers had openings with prospects Matt Manning and Alex Faedo shut down with right forearm strains, as well as JaCoby Jones’ season-ending left hand fracture on Tuesday.
The Tigers have been hoping to work with Meadows, who batted .221 with seven homers and 40 RBIs last year at Class A West Michigan in his first full pro season. 2020 was expected to be an important year for his development before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Minor League season.
Shore made a couple appearances in Spring Training after posting a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts and seven relief appearances at Erie last year.
Foley, who played with Short at Sacred Heart University, was a prospect to watch this summer in what would’ve been his second season back from Tommy John surgery after his power fastball made an impression at West Michigan and Lakeland in 2017. He struck out 43 batters over 44 innings in Lakeland last year while allowing 46 hits.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Detroit designated for assignment the contract of hard-throwing reliever David McKay. The 25-year-old struck out 29 batters over 19 1/3 innings last season after the Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Mariners, but he was optioned to Toledo after giving up two runs on a walk and home run in one-third of an inning on Opening Day in Cincinnati. At the time, manager Ron Gardenhire said McKay was struggling to find the pitches he had last year, including velocity.