The Tigers provided updates on several injured minor leaguers on Friday, including the news that Angel De Jesus recently underwent Tommy John surgery. (Hat tip to MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery.) The timing of the procedure will almost surely keep De Jesus out of action for all of the 2024 season, as Spring Training 2025 seems to be the likelier return date for the right-hander.
It’s a brutal setback for the 26-year-old De Jesus, who made his Major League debut in 2022. Detroit called De Jesus up and down from Triple-A on a few occasions last season, with the righty totaling 12 2/3 innings over eight appearances. He had only a 13% strikeout rate in that small sample size of work, but De Jesus got a lot of help from BABIP (.179) and an absurd 98.4% strand rate to deliver a 2.13 ERA over what remains his only taste of MLB action.
Detroit designated De Jesus for assignment during the offseason, then outrighted him off the 40-man roster after clearing waivers. In a step backwards, De Jesus has spent the entire 2023 season at Double-A Erie, delivering a lot of strikeouts but also a 12.5% walk rate over his 36 1/3 innings at the lower affiliate. It’s possible he might have gotten a Triple-A callup at some point this year had injury not intervened, as De Jesus’ outing on July 29 will now be his last on-field performance for quite some time.
Is he Jesus or an Angel? Make up your mind, man!
How could an Angel of Jesus ever need surgery? This is a real head hurter.
Wyatt Langford > Max Clark
You mean in the prospect rankings or during their first week of games?
Yes to all. Harris should have taken Langford instead of Clark.
They both seem to be doing fantastic where they’re at.
They are both doing great. Langford has already played 10 games and has been moved up to A+ ball. Clark is still in Rookie while only playing 5 games.
Langford in A+ 7 games .400/ .546/ .800
Clark in Rookie 5 games .300/ .390/ .850
Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Melechez. I think both Langford and Clark are going to be great players. Clark could become legendary, particularly with his speed and the expanse of Comerica Park’s centerfield which will help him show off both his offensive and defensive chops.
Clark could very well end up being the better player but Lanford will almost certainly contribute faster to the big club.
I understand the frustration. This rebuild seems to be taking forever. Time will tell.
Hopefully I’m still alive by the time management gets it right….
Both players should have good careers, but the need for more immediate help was ignored by HARRIS. Langford could have helped this iteration of the Tigers. Clark will be part of the rebuild as he won’t be up until after these players have ended their six years and are gone. Don’t expect HARRIS to be signing an Avila guy to an extension. Can’t wait to see these guys win with their new team.
If Clark is not up before 6 years that’s an epic fail. I don’t see it. Most of the team this year was Avila holdovers, not sure why you don’t think he would sign Skubal or Greene for instance to an extension. Taking a step back to assess what the team has when you’ve just landed there would seem to be a smart move to me. Hopefully the players drafted this year and moving forward will stock the minor league system and develop so they can fill voids in the lineup internally moving forward like Houston does. In the short term some trades and promotions might be in order.
Langford has future all star written all over him. Clark has “Another Derek Hill” written all over him.
And they are your mom’s panties.
That’s the problem with Clark… he could be a super star… or he could be a bust.
Langford could be a superstar or he could be a pretty solid major leaguer. The floor is so much higher for Langford. Those college years have shown he’s a very good player against very good competition. Clark has played against high school kids from the sticks. Sure, he could be great… or he could be great against terrible competition.
Or he could be Bryce Harper. Derek Hill is a bad comp. Lots of ifs and ors until they establish themselves. Like you said they are both playing well to start their careers. Time will tell which one is better. I remember being pissed when they got Riley Greene instead of JJ Bleday but man have I changed my tune on that one! If Clark follows the Riley Greene mold he could be up around the same time as Langford. I was hoping for another name when they picked (Crews or Langford) but I’ve warmed to Clark after reading more about him and seeing the extra savings going towards McGonigle, Rucker and Wilson. I don’t think there was a bad choice amongst the top 5 picks, just different skill sets.
Max Clark is a triple threat: homers, SB, doubles & far better athlete & arm.