DETROIT -- When Garrett Hill was called into Lloyd McClendon’s office this weekend, he was thought it was just for a post-workout chat.
Then the Triple-A Toledo manager dropped the news.
“He said, ‘After each start, you’re getting better and better. And because of that hard work, you’re going to the big leagues’” Hill remembered.
“I couldn’t believe it. Time stopped. That’s what you want as a little kid, to get to the big leagues and fulfill your dream.”
Hill, a 26-year-old right-hander, will start for the Tigers in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.
It won’t be just a one-and-done outing.
Tigers manager Hinch said Hill would get three starts leading up to the All-Star break. At that point, the Tigers will reassess and take stock of the pitching staff.
In a system stocked with early-round draft picks and blue-chip prospects, Hill was at risk of getting overlooked. A 26th-round pick who started his career at junior college and, as Hinch put it, is “not a radar-gun guy.” That is, he’s not going to tantalize scouts with an upper-90s fastball.
But Hill does throw strikes, miss bats and has had success at every level of the Tigers’ minor-league system.
In fact, he’s done so well -- including a stint last year in the Arizona Fall League -- that the Tigers thought it was quite possible that they would lose him in the Rule 5 Draft. The draft was ultimately scrapped by the MLB lockout.
The Tigers were fortunate to keep him, given the spate of injuries they’ve experienced in the starting rotation.
Hill will be the fifth starting pitcher to make his debut in 2022, joining Faedo, Beau Brieske, Elvin Rodriguez and Joey Wentz.
He’s been as good as just about anyone in the minor leagues. In 15 starts this year between Class AA Erie and Triple-A Toledo, Hill has a 3.23 ERA in 69 2/3 innings, striking out 98 and walking 25.
For a 26th-round pick, the only path to the big leagues is excelling at every stop. Hill has done just that.
“I will say this, I don’t think I’ve ever been given anything,” Hill said. “I’ve worked extremely hard. And my family sacrificed a lot, my girlfriend sacrificed a lot just for me to be able to fulfill my dream. That means the world to me.”
Hill is from Petaluma, Calif., just north of San Francisco. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s also the hometown of Tigers rookie first baseman Spencer Torkelson. But they’re separated by four years (Torkelson is only 22) and didn’t actually meet until they both landed in the Tigers organization.
“It’s really cool. I’m really excited for him,” Torkelson said. “I know how hard he works and he’s got really good stuff.”
Hill is taking the spot of Rony Garcia, who experienced shoulder soreness during pregame warmups on Saturday.
Hinch said he didn’t want to make any predictions -- given how often his predictions have been wrong this year -- but it’s theoretically possible that Garcia requires only the minimum 15 days on the injured list.
Alex Faedo will start Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader as the 27th man, which frees him from the normal restrictions on options. The Tigers have another doubleheader on July 11 and Faedo could potentially return for that date as well.
Detroit Tigers' Michael Pineda pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Saturday, May 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Raj Mehta)AP
Potential pitching plan up until the All-Star break
Monday (Game 1): Hill
Monday (Game 2): Faedo
Tuesday: Drew Hutchison
Wednesday: Michael Pineda
at Chicago White Sox
Thursday: Beau Brieske
Friday: Tarik Skubal
Saturday: Hill
Sunday: Hutchison
at Kansas City
July 11 (Game 1): Faedo?
July 11 (Game 2): Pineda
July 12: Brieske
July 13: Skubal
at Cleveland
July 14: Hill
July 15: Hutchison
July 16: Pineda
July 17: Brieske
-- All-Star Break --
The Link LonkJuly 04, 2022 at 07:36PM
https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2022/07/tigers-rookie-garrett-hills-mlb-debut-is-dream-fulfilled-through-hard-work.html
Tigers rookie Garrett Hill’s MLB debut is dream fulfilled through hard work - MLive.com
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