Tigers Lose Phil Coke to Foot Injury

Added on May 24, 2011 by Scott in

MLB

The Detroit Tigers are down a starting pitcher. Phil Coke was shipped to the 15-day disabled list today after suffering a foot injury in last night’s 6-3 victory over the Rays. The injury occurred while Coke was tracking down an attempted bunt in the fourth inning. No timetable for his return has been set.

What was first thought to be an ankle ailment was changed after a MRI revealed Coke has an extra bone in his foot. Evidently the extra bone rubbed another bone the wrong way. Due to the odd nature of the injury, it’s not yet known if it will have an impact on Coke’s career.

Prior to 2011, the 28-year-old Coke had been primarily used as a reliever. However, the Tigers moved him into the rotation after a solid spring. In 9 starts, he has amassed a 1-5 record with a 3.81 ERA. Despite the unimpressive numbers, batters are hitting only .238 against Coke in May.

Replacing Coke in the rotation will be minor league prospect Andy Oliver. In eight starts, Oliver is 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA with the Toledo Mud Hens. He’s also struck out 48 hitters in 49 2/3 total innings.

This won’t be Oliver’s first trip to the show. The 23-year-old southpaw got a taste of big league batting last summer. Unfortunately for him, he struggled to find a groove, going 0-4 in five starts with an ugly 7.36 ERA. Rookie woes aside, Oliver is still considered a talented hurler with a promising future. He’ll get his first shot at redemption on Saturday at home versus the Red Sox.

Coke, who won a World Series with the Yankees, was part of the 2009 three-team trade that sent former Tiger All-Star outfielder Curtis Granderson to the Big Apple.

Detroit has been up and down this season. At 24-23, they are seven games behind AL Central-leading Cleveland. A division title might be out of reach, but in an extremely jumbled American League, the Wildcard is very much in play for the Tigers.

Source: MLB.com