Detroit Tigers purchase contract of outfielder Ezequiel Carrera from Toledo Mud Hens

7/31/2014
BLADE STAFF

As a result of Detroit’s trade that brought former Cy Young winner David Price to the Tigers, the team has purchased the contract of outfielder Ezequiel Carrera from the Mud Hens.

Carrera will take the roster spot opened by Austin Jackson, who was traded along with pitcher Drew Smyly and minor-league infielder Willy Adames to acquire Price.

Carrera was in Toledo’s original lineup but was scratched. He will join the Tigers on Friday when they began a home series with Colorado.

“I am very happy now,” Carrera said after hearing about the promotions. “I thank Detroit for the opportunity.

“I’ve tried to show them my hitting and my speed and my defense. I’m happy for the chance to go up.”

Carrera ranks eighth in the International League with a .307 batting average in 97 games. He leads the league with 43 stolen bases, 15 more than Julio Borbon of Norfolk, and has six homers, 41 RBIs and 68 runs scored to rank third in the IL in that category.

“He’s had a real fine season in Triple-A,” Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said. “We had talked about him before, but couldn’t find a spot. Now we have one, and there’s no reason we can’t expect him to do a great job for us.”

After the Tigers lost to the White Sox today, the team also announced that it was recalling pitcher Pat McCoy from his rehab assignment with the Hens. Pitcher Ian Krol has been optioned to Toledo to open up a spot for him.