Brandon Inge Rejoins Tigers

Added on Jun 23, 2011 by Scott in

MLB

After being sidelined for the last three weeks with mononucleosis, Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge has been activated from the disabled list. He was recalled earlier today from his Triple-A rehab assignment and is expected to be available for tonight’s interleague matchup against the Diamondbacks.

The light hitting Inge has been struggling at the plate more than usual in 2011. In 52 games, he is batting a meager .211 with one home run and 12 RBI. Replacement Don Kelly has filled in admirably in Inge’s absence. Kelly has reached safely in five straight games and eight of his last ten. On the season, he’s posted a .264 average, a pair of homers and 10 RBI in 121 at bats.

The 34-year-old Inge has spent all eleven of his major league seasons with the Tigers. His time in the Motor City has been beset by inconsistency. A career average of .236 and a franchise record for strikeouts is more than enough to run a guy out of town, and yet he continues to remain a fixture at third base.

Inge has twice blasted 27 home runs in a season, but lacks the power of fellow strikeout kings Ryan Howard and Curtis Granderson. He last hit above .250 in 2006 and has fanned over 300 times since 2009.

His fielding percentage isn’t overly impressive either. He did finish second among all third baseman in 2010 with a .977%, but it was the first time in his career he placed in the Top 10. Needless to say, the fact that he’s lasted this long in a Tigers uniform is puzzling.

With or without Inge, Detroit is positioned nicely in the AL Central, one game behind the surprising first-place Indians. They rank second in the American League in team batting average at .265 and fifth in total bases. Losers of four of their last six, nine of their next ten games will be versus National League opponents.

Source: ESPN.com