Tigers Announce Next Round of September Call-Ups
The Tigers today announced the club’s second round of September call-ups, which include selecting the contracts of OF Christin Stewart and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Triple A Toledo, and recalling RHP Zac Reininger. To make room for Saltalamacchia on the 40-man roster, RHP Artie Lewicki has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
Stewart, ranked the organization’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, has been one of the top hitters in the International League this season, batting .264 (117x444), and ranking tied for first with 23 home runs, third with 77 RBI, 67 walks and a .480 slugging percentage, fourth with 213 total bases and tied for fourth with 47 extra-base hits. Since being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft by Detroit, Stewart has batted .262 (429x1637) over 460 Minor League games, belting 93 homers and driving in 297. This is Stewart’s first appearance on both the 40- and 25-man rosters.
Originally a first round selection of the Atlanta Braves in 2003, Saltalamacchia has proven that he can play at the big league level many times before. He’s suited up for 890 Major League games in his career, compiling a .233 (662x2845) average with 110 home runs and 381 RBI. Saltalamacchia has played for seven different clubs in the Majors, including a 92 game stint with the Tigers in 2016. He’s brought a good deal of veteran leadership to the Mud Hens clubhouse this season, and posted a .174 (38x218) average, with five homers and 28 runs driven in.
Reininger has been a frequent on I-75 this season — making multiple trips up and down between Detroit and Toledo. Through 37 appearances in a Mud Hens uniform this season, he’s tossed to a 5–1 record, 2.63 ERA (51.1IP/15ER), 53 strikeouts and converted each of his six save opportunities. For the Tigers, Reininger has played in 11 games this season, posting a 7.50 ERA (12.0IP/10ER) and striking out nine.
