ASU in the Pros Series: Tigers INF Andrew Romine

The Detroit Tigers have had mishaps this season, but Andrew Romine has sprung into any — literally almost every — position healing the Tigers’ wounds.

Like a reliever from the bullpen assists his fellow pitcher when the game gets out of hand, Romine has “come from the pen” to assist this organization. Romine is not a pitcher, all the time, but his utility talents has inked his name into almost every other position on the depth chart.

And now, it appears that Romine will get more playing time in upcoming games.

The emergence of the former Sun Devil has come at a critical time for the Tigers, as they are now 1 ¹⁄₂ behind the Cleveland Indians for second place in the AL Central and trail the first place Minnesota Twins by 2 ¹⁄₂ games.

In a report from George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press, Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus mentioned that Romine will get more reps in centerfield. Ausmus also mentioned that Tyler Collins will be tossed into the mix with Romine against right-handed pitchers.

George quoted Ausmus saying “I think of the guys we have right now, Romine’s probably the best defender, but it’s not a huge gap between the best of the three and the worst of the three.”

Along with his flexibility in the field, the 31-year-old has batted .243 and with 13 RBI’s so far this season. He also collected his second home run of 2017 on May 11 against his former team, the Los Angeles Angels.

His first home run of the season on Apr 12 was also his first career grand slam.

With outfielder Jim Adduci on the 10-day DL with a right oblique strain and star first baseman Miguel Cabrera out temporarily with the same injury, Ausmus has pointed to Romine to fill those voids.

Look for the former Sun Devil to get more playing time in the outfield, or the infield, or wherever the Tigers need him.