Jimenez Offers Relief In Sight

DETROIT—Righthander Joe Jimenez throws strikes. That sets the reliever apart from the vast majority of young flame-throwers.

Exceptional fastball control has been a major reason Jimenez has succeeded this season, which he began at high Class A Lakeland prior to a late-May bump to Double-A Erie.

“Right now, he has plus fastball control,” assistant general manager David Chadd said.

Jimenez, who owns a career walk rate of 2.5 per nine innings, starred in 2015, his first season at low Class A West Michigan. He made 40 appearances and recorded a 1.47 ERA, 61 strikeouts in 43 innings and a microscopic 0.79 WHIP.

Jimenez has made two steps forward already in 2016. The 21-year-old began the year with 17 scoreless innings—with just five hits allowed—at Lakeland to earn a promotion to Erie, where he went 3-1, 1.76 through 15 appearances. He struck out 27 and walked six through 15 Double-A innings.

The Tigers signed Jimenez as a nondrafted free agent out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy in 2013. He throws hard and has a slider that could make him a high-leverage reliever.

“We see signs of a potential plus pitch there,” Chadd said of the slider. “At times, you’ll see a plus slider out of Joe. Right now, I wouldn’t say it’s consistent, but it’s there. And that’s going to be the separator for Joe, to establish the consistency of that pitch.”

Chadd also saw potential in a third pitch while watching Jimenez at Erie.

“He threw some changeups when I was there that showed every bit of average to plus range,” Chadd said. “But once the consistency comes with the slider, he’s on his way.”

The Tigers will be careful to not rush Jimenez even though many fans are clamoring to see him at Comerica Park.

“It’s our responsibility to move him at the right pace,” Chadd said. “You can harm a player by moving him too fast.”

TIGER TALES

• Righthander Dustin Molleken, signed as a minor league free agent in December, toiled for 14 pro seasons, including two in Japan, before making his big league debut on July 4.

• The Tigers had planned to take it easy with young right-hander Michael Fulmer around the all-star break, but their plans changed when both Jordan Zimmermann and Daniel Norris landed on the disabled list.