MLB Note - Detroit Tigers Ferrell, Jeff

Aug 14, 2017 - 6:24 AM RHP Jeff Ferrell had his contract purchased by Detroit on Sunday and joined the Tigers for the second time in his career. He looked very efficient Sunday in his first action with the Tigers, retiring all three batters he faced with one strikeout in pitching the ninth inning of Detroit's 6-4 loss to Minnesota. Ferrell, a 26th-round draft choice by Detroit in 2010, was 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA for Triple-A Toledo with 51 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. He pitched for the Tigers in 2015, posting a 6.35 ERA in nine games. The Tigers released him last August but he re-signed with the organization during the winter and began relearning a slider, which was a feature pitch until he tore his UCL.





--RHP Edward Mujica was designated for assignment by Detroit on Sunday to make room for RHP Jeff Ferrell. Mujica gave up three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 inning Saturday night. He appeared in five games for the Tigers with a 9.95 ERA in 6 1/3 innings.



--RHP Bruce Rondon was optioned to Triple-A Toledo immediately after Sunday's 6-4 loss to Minnesota. Rondon was the losing pitcher, walking the only two batters he faced and needing just nine pitches to do it. Both runners scored to break a 4-4 tie. "We were just trying to keep the score where it was at that point, and he couldn't do it," manager Brad Ausmus said. "That was going to be his inning, but when none of the first four pitches were even close, I knew I had to get (RHP Warwick) Saupold throwing." The leash is short on Rondon and his time with the Tigers may be drawing to a close.



--RHP Drew VerHagen got a reprieve from being sent to the minors Sunday when Detroit optioned RHP Bruce Rondon instead. The Tigers will need a roster space Monday so they can activate RHP Michael Fulmer to start at Texas. VerHagen was the likely choice since he had made two starts in Fulmer's place, but when Rondon stumbled Sunday (throwing just one strike out of nine pitches) it caused the organization to keep VerHagen and shif