Jacob

Turner

Turner has posted a 5.37 ERA over parts of seven seasons for five different teams in the majors. The former top prospect is still just 27 but is ready to try things overseas.

Henning has Below in the driver’s seat, followed by Adam Wilk, Jacob Turner and Drew Smyly. He’s simply basing it on age, though, as Below is the elder statesman of the group at 26. We’re doubtful that’s the main criteria Detroit will use, and Below might have the least amount of upside of anyone in the group. Turner, who most assumed was the front-runner for job, is certainly the most talented, but he’s just 20 and the Tigers could choose to give him some more seasoning.

Lucas Duda delivered a grand slam off him. Turner didn’t give up any runs in his first two spring appearances, but he had been wild, walking four in 2 1/3 innings. Just 20 years old, he may need some minor league time at the beginning of the year.

“I’m happy that my arm’s feeling good right now,” Turner said after the workout. “That’s what I’m happy about.” The 20-year-old right-hander should be cleared to return to the mound within the next week, but he may have already been eliminated from the Tigers’ fifth-starter competition.

Turner was shut down last week due to tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, but he’s happy with the progress he has made over the past few days. “Yeah, I was playing catch yesterday and my arm felt good,” said Turner. “It’s been a step in the right direction. It’s nice to see the treatment paying off.” The 20-year-old is expected to extend his long-toss drills on Wednesday, but there’s no timetable for him to resume throwing from the mound.

Turner had been on a rehabilitation program after dealing with tendinitis in his right shoulder, but is finally healthy enough for the promotion. A favorite to make the Tigers’ Opening Day roster in spring training, he posted a 3.44 ERA between Double-A Erie and Toledo last season.

It was his first start since he was shut down with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Turner walked two and didn’t record a strikeout, but it was obviously an encouraging performance. The 20-year-old right-hander had a 3.44 ERA and 110/35 K/BB ratio in 131 innings last year between Double-A and Triple-A and could find his way to the majors at some point this summer.

Turner’s velocity was down during Monday’s start against the Mets, in which he was knocked around for six runs -- five earned -- over 1 2/3 innings. The 20-year-old entered spring training as a possible candidate for the fifth starter job, but it’s increasingly likely that he’ll open the season in the minors.

Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday that Turner was going through a “dead-arm period,” but didn’t specify any sort of injury. The 20-year-old showed decreased velocity in Monday’s outing, but rival executives told ESPN’s Buster Olney that the velocity drop actually dates back to late last year. The Tigers don’t view the situation as serious, but it’s not clear when he’ll resume throwing. As if it wasn’t obvious enough already, it’s doubtful he’ll win the Tigers’ fifth starter job at this point.

Turner is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Sunday, after which he could return to game action. The 20-year-old right-hander was originally in the mix for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, but his recent bout with shoulder tendinitis should be enough to punch his ticket to the minors.