The Tigers will open spring training on Feb. 13, which means baseball season is coming. Here is a daily look at players with possible ties to the Mud Hens, whose home opener is set for April 12 against Pawtucket.
1B Edwin Espinal
History: The Tigers signed Espinal early in the offseason after he was voted to the Eastern League’s postseason all-star team last year as a member of the Pirates organization. Espinal batted .283 with 25 doubles, 15 home runs, and 72 RBIs in 95 games with Double-A Altoona. Pittsburgh promoted him to Triple-A Indianapolis late in the season, and in 35 games he batted .323 with no homers but 14 RBIs with the Indians.
Future: Espinal will turn just 24 later this month, one of the reasons the Tigers quickly signed him to a minor-league contract early in the offseason. While he will start spring training in big-league camp, his limited Triple-A experience would suggest he will begin the season with the Mud Hens.