Englert, Flores, Dingler among 10 Tigers trimmed from spring roster
Chris McCoskyLakeland, Fla. — Tuesday, bloody Tuesday.
The Tigers sent 10 players out of camp.
Optioned to Triple-A Toledo were pitchers Mason Englert and Wilmer Flores, catcher Dillon Dingler, infielder Eddys Leonard and outfielder Wenceel Perez.
Reassigned to minor-league camp were pitchers Devin Sweet and Sean Guenther, catcher Donny Sands and outfielder TJ Hopkins.
None of those cuts were unexpected, though several of the players made favorable impressions and put themselves in position to be called up by the Tigers at some point this season.
"It can happen fast, which was the message for a lot of these guys," manager AJ Hinch said. "When they get sent out, it's always emotional for them and there's a lot disappointment and even some frustration. But they channel it well and they go out and work and try to be the first one called up whenever we need it."
Most of the players cut on Tuesday will still be participating in Grapefruit League games over the next two weeks.
"We have a lot of plans for them and they will stay in the mix," Hinch said. "But we need to thin the room out and have it start to feel more real that the season is close. We don't have the reps and we have to focus entirely on the decisions we have to make."
Englert, who stayed on the roster all last season as a Rule-5 pick, and Flores will likely stay stretched out and be options to start at Toledo.
"We're going to get them to the 50-60 pitch range and add to their volume," Hinch said. "We have plenty of time before their seasons start to get them built up to the four- or five-inning mark, if that's what we choose.
"The fact that we have a lot of guys who can go three or four innings out of the game is probably the smart way to handle early April anyway."
Dingler, getting some extended playing time for the first time in big-league camp, slashed .286/.421/.500 in 19 plate appearances. He is expected to share catching duties in Toledo with veteran Anthony Bemboom.
"It was the first time we were able to get Dillon into a routine behind the plate," Hinch said. "He's always been the fourth guy in the mix. But we got him a chance to catch Major League guys and got a chance to see him play more regularly.
"He commanded the position behind the plate. He can offer stuff offensively. He's literally a foul tip away from being an option for us if we need him. That's why he's going to stay in our mix over these next two weeks."
There are 44 players remaining in camp.
@cmccosky