The Detroit Tigers have formally announced the reinstatement of shortstop Jose Iglesias from the bereavement list. The announcement comes after they optioned infielder and No. 3 prospect Jeimer Candelario from Triple-A Toledo.
SS Jose Iglesias has been reinstated from the bereavement list & OF Alex Presley is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight for Toledo
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) August 9, 2017
Iglesias left the team following last Saturday’s game in Baltimore. The Tigers worked with just 24 guys in that series finale on Sunday against the Orioles, because any player called up would not have made it in time for the game.
Players placed on the bereavement list must miss a minimum of three games and a max of seven.
Iglesias on the season is putting up solid numbers offensively for his standards, hitting .262 with a .655 OPS in 91 games played this season. Those are a touch or two below his career marks, but his 35 runs batted in are already a personal-best with roughly two months to go.
And any offense Iglesias is lacking, he traded in for spectacular defense. His 13 defensive runs saved shatters his marks in that department from years prior and it ranks among the best in the American League.
Candelario got two at-bats in the game Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His first resulted in a sharp base hit to right field, in a pinch-hitting role. The 23-year-old has struggled to get going since being acquired by the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline. He’s just 5 for 26 in six games played, although three of his five knocks are good for extra bases.
As the Tigers’ PR department also points out, outfielder Alex Presley will begin rehabbing down with the Mud Hens on Wednesday and will return fairly soon. Presley was placed on the 10-day disabled list back on July 29 with a right side strain. He’s been a very productive player in his limited appearances, hitting .313 (.769 OPS) in 34 games (109 plate appearances.
Presley has been versatile defensively as well, seeing time at all three outfield positions. Though nearly two-thirds of his playing time has been patrolling center field.
