BREAKING: Former Detroit Tigers prospect shot in Venezuela

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According to a report from Evan Woodberry of MLive (via Venezuelan journalist, Andriw Sanchez Ruiz), a former Detroit Tigers prospect has been shot while in Venezuela.

Javier Betancourt, who signed with the Tigers as a free agent in 2011 before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Francisco Rodriquez in 2015, was shot in the left elbow and is being flown back to the United States for surgery.

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From MLive:

Betancourt’s winter league team, the Leones of Caracas, confirmed that he was shot after an argument with an unknown person, according to Venezuelan journalist Andriw Sanchez Ruiz. 

Ruiz reported that Betancourt was wounded in the left elbow and was being flown to Milwaukee for treatment.

Betancourt was ranked the 11th-best prospect in the Tigers’ system when he was traded to Milwaukee after the 2015 season.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Javier Betancourt.


BONUS CONTENT: 

Tigers agree to terms with 5 players for 2018

It remains to be seen what sort of moves the Detroit Tigers will make this offseason. Team general manager Al Avila said back in October that the team was going to play the role of “bargain hunters” on the open market, hinting at more low-key signings.

On Saturday, the team formally announced deals with five players, one of which includes a reliever on the 40-man roster who was eligible for arbitration this offseason.

Lefty reliever Blaine Hardy is one of seven current Tigers that was arbitration-eligible this winter. Hardy has spent parts of the last four seasons with Detroit. In total, he’s logged a 3.62 ERA in 164 appearances out of the bullpen. Last season, however, was by far his worst as a big leaguer, posting an ERA close to 6.00 in just 35 appearances with the Tigers.

Click below to read the remainder of the article.

https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-tigers-news/amuller/just-tigers-agree-terms-5-players-2018/99036/