The Tigers have optioned right-hander Spencer Turnbull to Triple-A Toledo and recalled right-hander Alex Faedo, per a team announcement. Faedo will start today’s game against the Cardinals.
A second round pick in the 2014 draft, Turnbull made his MLB debut in 2019, struggling to a 6.06 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of work. He would become a regular in the Tigers rotation the following season, however, making thirty starts and posting a roughly league average 4.61 ERA with a solid 3.99 FIP in 148 1/3 innings during the 2019 season. His results continued to improve in 2020, when he posted a 3.97 ERA and 3.49 FIP over 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened campaign.
Turnbull appeared on the verge of a true breakout in 2021, as he had posted a dazzling 2.88 ERA (148 ERA+) in 50 innings across the first nine starts of his season. Unfortunately, Turnbull’s 2021 campaign came to an end prematurely when he underwent Tommy John surgery in July. Turnbull missed the entire 2022 season rehabbing, and returned to the mound as a member of Detroit’s rotation to open the 2023 campaign.
Turnbull has struggled mightily to this point, however, with a 7.26 ERA that leaves him 40% worse than league average by measure of ERA+ and a 5.65 FIP that provides little consolation. Even more worryingly, Turnbull has managed just 31 innings across those starts, pitching into the sixth inning just twice while failing to make it out of the fourth inning three times. Manager AJ Hinch confirmed to reporters, including Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, that Turnbull’s inability to pitch deep into games so far this season was a factor in his demotion. Per Hinch, Turnbull will be tasked with finding the consistency to execute all his pitches during his time in the minors going forward.
Service time might also be some small factor in the Tigers’ decision, as MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery (Twitter links) notes that Detroit might gain an extra year of control over Turnbull if he spends enough time in the minors. Turnbull entered the season with four years and 20 days of service time, and he is currently on track to reach free agency following the 2024 season. Of course, Woodbery observes that the Tigers’ first priority is just getting Turnbull pitching well, since the righty might be a non-tender candidate unless he can turn things around.
Turnbull’s departure creates room on the active roster for Faedo, the club’s first round pick in the 2018 draft. The 27-year-old Faedo made his MLB debut last season, posting a 5.53 ERA with a 4.62 FIP in 53 2/3 innings of work over 12 starts. While Faedo’s results at the big league level last year certainly left something to be desired, there’s some reason for optimism given his excellent results in the minors since his return from Tommy John surgery last year. In 33 2/3 minor league innings since then, Faedo has posted a 2.14 ERA with a 38.2% strikeout rate. Faedo joins Eduardo Rodriguez, Matthew Boyd, Michael Lorenzen, and Joey Wentz in the Tigers’ rotation, though it’s not currently clear if Faedo is simply up for a spot start or will get a longer look as the club’s fifth starter.
No mention of his no hitter a couple starts before his injury?
They gave his stats for previous years, that’s far more relevant than what he did in one game preinjury.
He had a 2.88 ERA, 2.95 FIP, .98 WHIP, and a .203 BAA in 2021 prior to his injury. He was really starting to come into his own prior to his injury. It wasn’t just his no-no that season.
A 1-game sample means nothing. No-hitters are overrated.
I bet if he played for the Yankees they would have mentioned it.
The Tigers organization has to be one of the worst when it comes to player development.
Right move. He’s really been struggling and his stuff isn’t nearly as explosive as it was pre TJ. Hope he can figure it out in Toledo!
Wow!
As always, we await developments.
Turnbull has 350 million reasons to pursue free agency when his contract expires.
Do all your transactions in life substitute dollars for reasons? When you get lunch somewhere and you get the check, do you stare at in a state of terrified confusion before asking the person “how much is this in reasons?”
Dang autocorrect. Do=Don’t in both instances.
I know you arent the person that posts that all the time.
Beans, I haven’t a clue what you mean by this my guy.
My original comment was meant to be a joke. But the autocorrect from “do” to “dont” made it seem like I was commenting like you were the “x player has x reasons” guy. When you were obviously just clowning on the commenters that post the same weird comments.
Just clarifying I wasn’t making a jerk comment
Lol I see now. That would be Marlins Fan Ace. I missed his inane trolling (at least I hope it was) so I decided to carry on the torch today.
After all the starting pitchers that were used last year, starting pitching is one solid area of depth this year. Wishing all the best for Spencer. He just has not gotten all of his velocity back. He was throwing in the high 80’s on Opening day, but Chris Sale was barely hitting 90, too, so I was hoping it was just the cold weather. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have been the case.
He’ll be fine. Many pitchers struggle to find consistency returning after TJ surgery. Most eventually work it out. He likely just needs reps and Toledo is a good place for that. He was nearly lights out in 2021 before he got hurt.
Kind of surprised by this though. Thought it would be Wentz. But Wentz has pitched better than Turnbull. So makes sense from that aspect as well.
This is what’s good about the Tigers right now, moving guys up or down. Bringing guys like Ibanez up and watching them go to town is fun for the fans. This Tiger team is surprising to the upside at how much they are jelling right now. The defensive plays are off the charts, and they are getting some timely hits too.
I like how this team is playing, they are fun to watch. They may not have any superstars, but they have really come together, and have adopted roles to play. Harris has really surprised, and we are eager to see what the draft brings this summer. The farm is loaded, and more spaces open up next year.
At least they’re finally done with miguel cabrera’s (“miggy”) sorry ass after this season.
The ACE!!!
A new name! Eventually you will run out of new names and we’ll say “at least we’re finally done with Ace! Or whatever his name this week is.”
Gee, way to show respect for a Hall of Fame player. He won back to back MVPs and won the Triple Crown for this team. There is nothing “sorry” about Miguel Cabrera’s career. Your comment, on the other hand, is the epitome of sorry.
I think with time and more pitching Turnbull will get it together. trusting your body and arm after surgery takes time. Some do it faster than others Being consistent was a problem I seen.
Imo, wrong spencer for the tigers to be sending to AAA
Hopefully Faedo doesn’t dog it on the field. One could only hope he would turn bull-like.
I hope you didn’t much time on that. Lamest jokes I’ve seen in quite a while.
TJ recovery takes an additional season once cleared to return. I’m convinced of this, very few guys come back from TJ and are effective within two years of the surgery. Turnbull is going to need the rest of the season at Toledo to build strength and control and confidence back into his game. Talk about a guy who will get decimated financially if he can’t get back to the majors ever again, he has never been paid because his career started so late and that injury may wind up costing him everything.
Turnbull- more like Turn Bad! Amirite?
I would’ve sent down Wentz instead……
As long as he gets his reps somewhere this year. First year back from TJ doesn’t always go smooth like a lot of you said.
WOW………WOWWOW……………………JAKE RODGERS…………GOES YARD……….GRAND SLAM………
Jake is sure making the moves to be the main catcher, with Hasse playing more in the outfield. WOW.
Good too see Rogers finding his touch at the plate. It was going great until the 6th. The error fest didn’t help.
Total disaster that we’ve not really seen all year long. Too bad, but I was going to look to see who’s down on the farm to replace Maton, even though he’ was so hot to start the season. It’s a shame he’s been having a rough time lately. I don’t even know if they have a hot left handed hitting infielder in the farm. Well, it’s just one game, but one that showed how thin the pitching really is, and E rod is not going anywhere soon, that’s for sure.
Hope Turnbull gets his rhythm back and makes it back to Detroit, he deserves a break after TJ surgery. He can iron out his problems in Toledo
He’s overrated
I’ve watched or listened to every game this year. Hinch likes to push his pitchers one inning past the point where the pitcher begins to struggle. Pitcher pitches three clean innings, struggles to escape the fourth, AJ “stretches” him to one more and the pitcher gets hammered. It’s been happening a lot and doesn’t seem to help in “building up length”…