Report: Tigers Calling Up Tyler Collins
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers have called up outfielder Tyler Collins from Triple-A Toledo, according to MLive.
The move might mean designated hitter Victor Martinez is going on the disabled list. Collins could take the spot of J.D. Martinez in the outfield, and J.D. Martinez could move to designated hitter.
Victor Martinez, who underwent knee surgery in the offseason after tearing his meniscus, has gone four games without a hit. His batting average to date this season is .216.
Martinez has been battling soreness in the knee, but he aggravated the injury further Monday. He said he felt a pinch in the knee while trying to run out a double play in the eighth inning.
Martinez did not directly answer whether he would be opposed to going on the disabled list, but he noted that when he returned in 2013 after missing the whole 2012 season that it took him half the 2013 season to return to normal.
"The only thing I can control, that I can do, is just keep battling, keep working hard, and see what happens," Martinez said.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus had hinted Monday night that shutting Martinez down could be a possibility.
"From the looks of things, I think we're going to have to at least talk about other options," Ausmus said, "but we'll do that privately."
Martinez refused to blame his poor performance on the knee.
"It's not an excuse," Martinez said. "If I'm playing, it's because I'm able to go out there and put good swings in, put good at bats in."
The Tigers had been hoping the knee would heal while Martinez continued playing. Recently, it seemed to be working.
"He started to turn the corner on that last road trip, Kansas City, Chicago," Ausmus said. "Then we came back home and he didn't look as good, so we gave him the three days in St. Louis, hoping that would help. And today obviously looked like he aggravated it again. He didn't look like he was hurting swinging, but he looked like he aggravated it again when he was running. And quite frankly, he got down the line pretty good."
In 18 games for the Tigers last season, Collins had a batting average of .250 and an on-base percentage of .280. In Toledo this season, Collins has an average of .248 with an on-base percentage of .338.
