Tigers DFA Brewer Hicklen Amid Slump
The Detroit Tigers are scrambling to stay afloat after a hot start to the season fizzled out. Following their ninth loss in ten games and a disappointing series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit is making changes. The first casualty? Outfielder Brewer Hicklen, who was designated for assignment after playing just one game for the team.
Hicklen, acquired in a March trade with the Brewers, showed promise in his brief stint, going 2-for-3 with a walk in May. However, his overall numbers in Triple-A (.227/.335/.394 with eight homers and 14 steals) didn’t inspire confidence.
Despite his speed and versatility, Detroit is clearly looking for more consistent production as it eyes a postseason push.
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What’s Next for Hicklen and the Tigers?
The Tigers now have five days to trade or waive Hicklen, and he’s likely headed back to the minors. Either with Detroit or a new organization. At 29, Hicklen has only 13 big-league plate appearances but offers enough speed and defensive coverage to be considered a late-inning option for contending teams.
For Detroit, this may be just the beginning. With Kerry Carpenter nearing a return and outfielders like Riley Greene and Parker Meadows ahead of Hicklen on the depth chart, the roster crunch is real. Reports also suggest the Tigers could add a right-handed bat before the trade deadline, further limiting Hicklen’s role.
This move could be a preview of a busy week ahead as Detroit looks to realign its roster and salvage its postseason ambitions.
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