LAKELAND, Fla. — Former All-Star closer Trevor Rosenthal, who has returned to the Detroit Tigers on a minor-league contract, believes he will be prepared to pitch when the regular season begins, but the organization won’t rush him into action.
The 32-year-old, an All-Star in 2015 with the St. Louis Cardinals, officially signed with the Tigers on Saturday. For the past few days, he has been working out at the spring training facility. He is scheduled for a bullpen Tuesday and still needs to face live hitters.
It’s unclear when he will appear in his first game.
Opening Day is about three weeks away.
“I don’t see there being any issue in getting to that level of competition in three weeks,” Rosenthal said. “We’re focusing on taking the next best step and worrying about today. But yeah, I think three weeks, given my role and the quantity of pitches I have to make, it doesn’t take long to build up to throw one inning and 20 pitches. Three weeks should be plenty of time.”
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The Tigers were interested in Rosenthal, a right-handed reliever, for several months leading up to the early March agreement. If he makes the big-league team, he will earn $2 million with the chance for an additional $2 million in performance bonuses, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Rosenthal and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch briefly talked Saturday on the phone.
“I was impressed about the plan,” Rosenthal said. “They already have a plan laid out. Once he’s able to get his eyes on me, and we’re able to work together and communicate more, it’ll make that easier. But just in that brief initial conversation, they have a good plan in place. I’m excited to work with him.”
Hinch and Rosenthal shared a more in-depth conversation Tuesday.
The Tigers won’t rush his progression.
“There’s no need to have a sense for a timeline,” Hinch said. “It does not matter when he’s ready as long as he’s healthy. We’re not going to push it. There is no artificial date. Opening Day is not something that’s feasible. We’re going to be very strict and diligent with our work with him.”
This marks Rosenthal’s second go-around with the Tigers. He pitched nine innings across 10 games for the club in 2019, posting a 7.00 ERA with 11 walks and 12 strikeouts. He also appeared in six games for Triple-A Toledo.
The next year, in 2020, Rosenthal registered a 1.90 ERA with eight walks and 38 strikeouts in 23⅔ innings across 23 games for the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres, as well as four games for the Padres in the postseason. He logged 11 saves in 12 chances.
But Rosenthal hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since then.
“I missed spring training last year, so I felt like it was important to be involved in this and use it to get ready for April,” Rosenthal said. “I’m very happy to be a part of the Tigers’ organization. A lot of things have changed, I think, since 2019, but it seems like all good changes. The atmosphere has been great.”
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Rosenthal, who can be elite when healthy, hasn’t been able to stay on the field over the past two seasons. The injury struggles were seemingly sparked by Tommy John surgery in 2017 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He missed the entire 2018 season while rehabbing.
He also underwent thoracic outlet surgery in April 2021, then season-ending hip surgery in July 2021. A hamstring strain sidelined him for almost the entire 2022 season and allowed just two innings at the Triple-A level.
“Knock on wood,” Rosenthal said. “No more of that stuff. … I think I’m in a good spot where I feel good now and have an idea how to continue to feel good. I can’t predict the future, but I like where I’m at right now.”
If Rosenthal proves his health, he will profile as a high-leverage reliever — and possibly the closer — for the Tigers. Back in 2020, he ranked in the 99th percentile for fastball velocity (97.9 mph), 99th percentile for strikeout rate (41.8%) and 95th percentile in swing-and-miss rate (37.5%).
His 8.8% walk rate ranked in the 43rd percentile.
Rosenthal throws four pitches: four-seam fastball, slider, changeup and sinker. His fastball, slider and changeup are the pitches he uses the most. All three can generate swings and misses at high rates.
“My stuff is going to be similar to what I’ve always been,” Rosenthal said. “High-velocity fastball and changeup, and a breaking ball to throw a little wrinkle in the mix. … That talent aspect, the ability I have, hasn’t really disappeared, so that’s given me confidence to prioritize things different. That’s the natural progression as a player as you mature in the game.”
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At the 2020 trade deadline, the Royals shipped Rosenthal to the Padres for outfielder Edward Olivares and right-handed reliever Dylan Coleman. Last season, Olivares hit .286 with four home runs in 53 games, while Coleman had a 2.78 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 68 games out of the bullpen.
The trade undoubtedly paid off for the Royals.
The Tigers could try to do the same if Rosenthal returns to form.
“What keeps him motivated is he loves the game,” Hinch said. “He loves his teammates. He wants to be thrown in the fire. He loves that moment. Once you pitch at the back end of a game, the thirst to do it again and keep doing it is real. He’s had to battle through a couple different things and has continued to push forward. He’s still young. I think he has plenty left in his gas tank if we can keep him on the field and keep him healthy.”
Joining the Tigers inserts Rosenthal into a fierce competition for the final spots in the eight-man bullpen. Alex Lange, José Cisnero, Jason Foley, Tyler Alexander and Mason Englert (Rule 5 draft pick) are considered locks to make the Opening Day roster, leaving three openings for a handful of pitchers.
Four of the pitchers in competition signed minor-league contracts with the Tigers: Rosenthal, right-hander Matt Wisler, righty Trey Wingenter and left-hander Chasen Shreve.
Those decisions won’t be finalized for another three weeks.
And Rosenthal believes he will be ready.
“I don’t think it will take long for me to get ready to compete,” Rosenthal said, “but also, I want to be intentional about taking the right steps and making sure I am ready, and really utilizing the time that’s left in camp. I think, in these three weeks, I’ll be able to get to where I want to be, but if not, I think they’re going to do a good job of taking care of me in that regard.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.