Torres called up; Paquette released

4/30/2003

Early yesterday morning Andres Torres found his name at the top of the lineup for the Mud Hens.

But by evening Torres' name was atop the lineup for the Tigers, who promoted him to Detroit.

Torres was in Toledo manager Larry Parrish's original lineup, but just before game time Parrish told the fleet center fielder of his promotion. “[Parrish] told me to just keep doing what I was doing here,” Torres said before leaving in the bottom of the first inning. “He said to not stop doing those things that got me [promoted].”

Torres had played in each of the Hens' first 21 games, posting a .350 batting average. He also had a .450 on-base percentage, thanks in part to 10 walks, stole 13 bases to rank second in the IL, and led Toledo with 17 runs scored.

“[Torres] has been a spark plug at the top of our lineup, stealing bases and playing center field very well,” Parrish said. “When you play like that, that's your reward: You get called up.”

The Tigers released infielder Craig Paquette to make room for Torres. The move was ironic because the Tigers told Paquette he would be released on the final Friday of spring training, then kept Paquette - and his $2.625 million salary - and sent Torres to Toledo.

- JOHN WAGNER