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Melvin Mercedes called up from Toledo to replace Buck Farmer on Tigers' roster

Melvin Mercedes is the latest Tigers' pitcher to be called up to Detroit for his major league debut. He replaces Kevin Whelan, who was optioned to make room for starting pitcher Buck Farmer. Farmer was optioned after Tuesday's game.

By Patrick OKennedy
US PRESSWIRE

The Detroit Tigers have optioned starting pitcher Buck Farmer to triple- A Toledo, and recalled right handed relief pitcher, Melvin Mercedes from Toledo. Farmer will be eligible to be recalled in ten days, or sooner, if another player is placed on the disabled list. He can be recalled in any case, as a "26th man" should the Tigers want to give him a start on August 23rd, when they are scheduled to play a day- night double header against the Minnesota Twins.

Mercedes will be the eleventh player to make his major league debut this season for the Tigers, and the ninth pitcher to do so. Six of those are relief pitchers called up to aid a beleaguered bullpen.

Mercedes was signed by the Tigers in 2008 as a 17-year-old pitcher from Venezuela, and has now spent parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues since coming state side in 2008. He has managed to lower his walk rate over the past few seasons, although his strikeout ratio is down this season also.

Mercedes was added to the Tigers' 40 man roster following the 2012 season. The club is unable to recall pitchers Pat McCoy, Kevin Whelan, or Justin Miller, who have been optioned to the minor leagues recently and will not be eligible to be recalled for ten days, unless another player is placed on a disabled list.

The Tigers put reserve catcher, Ramon Cabrera on waivers to make room for Buck Farmer prior to Tuesday's game. He was claimed off waivers by the PIttsburgh Pirates, the organization where he began his professional career.

Following are the vital statistics for Mercedes for the 2014 season and his minor league career in the Tigers' organization.

Melvin Mercedes
Mercedes G IP ERA WHIP HR/9 BB/9 K/9 Saves K/BB
2014 minors 41 52.0 4.33 1.33 1.0 2.4 4.7 3 1.93
Career minors 220 289.0 2.29 1.33 1.0 2.4 6.0 63 1.50
Career minor league stats are through 2013 season

BYB profiled Mercedes prior to this season here.

Tigers to make major league debut in 2014

Tyler Collins, OF

Blaine Hardy, RP

Cory Knebel, RP

Eugenio Suarez, SS

Robbie Ray, SP

Chad Smith, RP

Drew VerHagen

Pat McCoy, RP

Justin Miller, RP

Buck Farmer, SP

Melvin Mercedes, RP

Note: Nick Castellanos and Kevin Whelan have very little previous MLB experience, but have appeared previous to this season.

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