The Tigers are signing utility player David Hensley to a minor league deal, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC 2. It seems likely that the 28-year-old will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Hensley was a 26th-round pick by the Astros in 2018. He got to the majors with Houston four years later. Hensley appeared in 46 games between 2022-23, hitting .177/.273/.274 over 128 plate appearances. The Astros kept him in Triple-A for the first half of last season. They designated him for assignment in the middle of July.
Miami grabbed Hensley off waivers. He took 58 trips to the dish with the Marlins, hitting .212/.293/.288. The Fish waived him at the beginning of the offseason. Hensley went unclaimed and elected minor league free agency. He’s a .188/.280/.279 hitter over 169 major league plate appearances.
The righty-swinging Hensley has a better minor league track record. He has taken over 1100 Triple-A plate appearances and has a .257/.384/.413 showing at the top minor league level. That’s built largely on a near-17% walk rate, as Hensley has shown a very patient plate approach. He has plenty of experience at all four infield positions and has some time in the corner outfield.
Detroit must have liked his 301 carrier walks in the minor leagues or his ability to play so many positions for this signing. Probably heading for Toledo.
Detroit likes players that can play multiple positions at a league average or below. They are cheaper.
They just offered Bregman $170 million plus. I don’t think we can call them cheap…not this week at least!
One week out of 11 years = 1/572.
So, not 1/572 cheap.
And it’s Friday, already.
KC hired Chapman (23), just signed Regans. That’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout……!
Motor City Beach Bum i just found todays tigers spring training online if your interested Phillies-Tigers espn freestreams-live.mp/detroit-tigers-live-stream/ Tigers leading 12-0 after 3 innings so far,Are you on discord by any chance?
Awesome I will check that out. Thanks for the heads up. Just got back from work so i hadnt checked anything yet. I don’t have any social media.
i think you saw my message too late to watch game but next tuesday mlb tv will have tigers braves-that one will be avail live and replay mlb.com/live-stream-games/2025/03/11 the game on feb 26 that was played is also on there to watch, plus here’s another good site for mlb replays all season mlb.com/live-stream-games/2025/03/11 ,they don’t have every game but have lots of them if you miss them live,i usually stream them live on different sites.
i goofed with 2nd link meant to give you this one mlblive.net/detroit-tigers-full-game-replay this is for tigers games but they have all teams.there’s another couple spring games on there also from this year.plus games from last few years.
At times, I think they overdo the multiple positions training. It may be good for a utility fielder or bench guy. Having an OF back up 1B is helpful. Not allowing top prospects to improve at the position you expect them to play can hurt their development. It may be part of why they haven’t developed a true 3B.
Minor League depth.
You gotta wonder what they know or see. Is this pure FO work or just a favor to someone?
Surprise us, excell!
Congratulations, David Hensley!
Seriously. What drives a decision like this? Stats very mundane, with extreme plateaus in BA, Walks.
How they arrive at this guy would be very insightful. Familiarity, proximity, contact? Did they study tapes and target the guy? Or did he target them and sell himself?
It’s these interworkings that make a FO a FO.
It doesn’t really matter he ‘s not someone we’ll see much of if at all in Detroit.i care about their main roster not a minor league cup of coffee guy.
Zach short part two? May he never play for Detroit
Here’s hoping we have an all star named Jung at 3b! Not likely this year, but his brother pulled it off a couple years ago, so it’s possible. I also hope Tork makes them find him a home to play everyday, that would more than compensate for missing out on Bregman. He’s capable of 40 homer’s if he just gets his head right
Thank god they didn’t sign Bregman.Despite needing a hitter bad and 3rd baseman on roster overpaying for it would of been a mistake.Give me Bregman when he was really good not as a declining player who wanted too much money.
So….does this mean Gleyber Torres is trade fodder?
What does signing a minor league player who will not see much time in the English D if ever have on Gleyber Torres?
Torres is a top 10 2B. Hensley won’t get near Detroit. He’s minor league depth that will probably be swapped out if a more intriguing option comes along.
TIGERS SIGN FORMER ASTROS INFIELDER
…David Hensley
His (and other players) high walk rate with horrible batting stats tells me that they’re simply afraid to swing the bat. It doesn’t play in the majors nearly as well as the minors because guys are much more likely to have better command. I mean, if they can truly see the ball that much better, then they’d be a much better hitter than they show. Hence, they’re just trying to take walks because they’re desperate to get on base and know their chances aren’t good if they swing, apparently. They figure walks lead to OBP and that might appeal to someone and keep me being paid to play a game for a living a little longer at least.