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Tigers call up relief pitcher Kevin Whelan from Toledo

Right-hander Kevin Whelan, the relief pitcher once traded by the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees for Gary Sheffield, has been called up to Detroit from Triple-A Toledo.

By Patrick OKennedy
Christopher Pasatieri

The Tigers have purchased the contract of relief pitcher Kevin Whelan from Triple-A Toledo, according to John Wagner of the Toledo Blade via Twitter.

Whelan is a 30-year-old veteran of ten minor league seasons. The hard throwing right-hander was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2005 amateur player draft out of Texas A & M University. He was one of three players traded to the New York Yankees, along with Anthony Clagett and Humberto Sanchez after the 2006 season, for Gary Sheffield. He appeared briefly with the Yankees during the 2011 season, and did not give up a hit in 1 2/3 innings, but he walked five batters.

Whelan G IP ERA WHIP HR/9 BB/9 K/9 Saves K/BB
2014 Minors 35 39.0 1.85 1.08 0.0 3.7 11.1 20 3.00
Career minors 374 482.2 3.32 1.23 0.5 5.1 11.4 116 2.25
Major leagues 2 1.2 5.40 3.00 0.00 27.00 5.40 0 0.20
Career minor league stats are for ten seasons through 2014.

Whelan will take Joakim Soria's spot on the major league roster, since Soria is on the 15 day disabled list. He will have to be added to the 40 man roster also, and that will require a corresponding move, which the club has not yet announced.

The Tigers may also add another relief pitcher to temporarily replace Anibal Sanchez on the roster, at least until Robbie Ray is called up to make a start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, either on Tuesday in Pittsburgh or Wednesday in Detroit.

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