Brenan

Hanifee

Hanifee will take the ball as Detroit’s opener before giving way to rookie southpaw Brant Hurter, who has posted a solid 3.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 26/3 K/BB ratio across 27 2/3 innings (six appearances, one start) so far, for a bulk relief appearance. There’s definitely some streaming appeal here with Hurter, especially for fantasy managers in extremely deep leagues.

Hanifee made three relief appearances for Detroit last year and gets the call back to the majors following their flurry of trade deadline moves earlier this week. The 26-year-old righty figures to operate in middle relief after compiling a pedestrian 5.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 53/14 K/BB ratio across 47 innings (34 appearances) this season at the Triple-A level.

Jung was already told that he wasn’t going to make the big league team out of camp, but he acquitted himself well in spring training, hitting .375/.476/.563 with a home run and just three strikeouts in 12 games. Jung will be playing third base once the minor league season begins and could be up in Detroit over the summer. Bigbie could get a shot in the Tigers’ outfield at some point this season if they need to cover for any injuries.

Hanifee, 25, made his big league debut with the Tigers during the 2023 season, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 3/0 K/BB ratio across his five innings of work. He’ll need a strong showing in Grapefruit League action to crack the team’s Opening Day bullpen.

It’s merely a procedural move for the Tigers as Hanifee was designated for assignment earlier this week and evidently went unclaimed on waivers. The 25-year-old righty, who made three relief appearances this past season for Detroit, is officially a free agent.

Hanifee, 25, made his big league debut with the Tigers in 2023 — posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 3/0 K/BB ratio over five innings of work. Given the time of year — and most teams fighting to clear room on their 40-man rosters, it’s likely that Hanifee will pass through waivers unclaimed and continue to function as bullpen depth for the Tigers.

Hanifee receives his first call up to the majors for Wednesday’s contest against the Dodgers after recording a 4.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 82/30 K/BB ratio across 90 1/3 innings (25 appearances, 13 starts) this season for Triple-A Toledo. The 25-year-old right-hander was a fourth-round pick of the Orioles in the 2016 MLB Draft and signed a minor league pact with the Tigers last December.

Hanifee made it back from Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery last season and represents a speculative pickup for the rebuilding Tigers. The 24-year-old right-hander was a fourth-round selection of the Orioles back in 2016.

Hanifee will be in rest and rehab mode until sometime in the second half of the 2022 season. The 22-year-old former fourth-round pick holds a career 3.52 ERA and 5.7 K/9 in 329 2/3 minor league innings.

Hanifee allowed just five hits and didn’t walk anyone while striking out four. The 21-year-old has had an up-and-down year with the Keys, and the shutout lowers his ERA to 4.40 while he improves his K/BB ratio to 57/41. The fourth-round pick offers a hard, sinking fastball that can touch 95 mph, and he complements it with a solid slider and improving change. He’s pounded the strike zone in his previous seasons, but the command hasn’t quite been there in 2019. Hanifee projects as a backend starter, but if either the slider or change take another step, the 21-year-old could develop into a mid-rotation arm.