The Detroit Tigers optioned outfielder JaCoby Jones to Triple-A Toledo and recalled outfielder Victor Reyes to replace him, the team announced Sunday night.
Reyes’ addition to the active roster will become official prior to the start of Monday’s game, which opens a four-game series at Comerica Park. The Tigers demoted Reyes to Toledo on May 8, and he went on an 11-game hitting streak for the Mud Hens.
Reyes’ hitting streak was snapped in Sunday’s 12-5 win over the Columbus Clippers, a Cleveland affiliate. He went 0-for-3 with one walk, one run scored and two strikeouts. During his 12-game stay in the minor leagues, the 26-year-old went 18-for-46 (.391) with four doubles, one home run, six RBIs, seven walks and eight strikeouts.
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Through 36 games this season, Jones is 17-for-100 (.170) with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, five walks and 42 strikeouts. In Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals, the 29-year-old struck out in two of four plate appearances, though he did walk once.
Jones has been considered the Tigers’ everyday center fielder in recent years, but his playing time was trimmed this season because of the emergence of 22-year-old 2020 Rule 5 draft pick Akil Baddoo. A more crucial factor in the lack of opportunities: Jones has struggled at the plate.
His woes are comparable to what Reyes went through in April and early May.
Earlier this season, Reyes was sent down after a rough 21-game stretch coming out of spring training. He went 9-for-63 (.143) with one home run, three RBIs, two walks and 18 strikeouts — leading the Tigers to remove him from the roster.
The Tigers selected Reyes with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 Rule 5 draft. He has a .260 batting average in 247 career games in the majors.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.