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Tigers call up right-handed pitcher Jeff Ferrell for bullpen help

But... who is Jeff Ferrell?

By Emily Waldon and Rob Rogacki
Leon Halip/Getty Images

The Detroit Tigers will call up right-handed pitcher Jeff Ferrell before Friday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to John Wagner of the Toledo Blade. The move has not been made official by the Tigers yet, and a corresponding move is still unknown.

Coming out of a 3-3 final season and a 4.97 ERA with Pitt Community College, the 2010 26th round selection (793rd overall) for Detroit didn't exactly come tearing out of the gate with his start in the Tigers' affiliate system.

Following his signing in 2010, Ferrell split his time between the Gulf Coast League and Connecticut Tigers, his only midseason promotion until this season. As a starter leading up to 2014, Ferrell was 30-26 with a 4.16 ERA. Coming into the 2015 season with Double-A Erie, a bout of shoulder stiffness would change of Ferrell's future on the hill.

Ferrell missed the majority of April while working his way back from the injury, and he settled in to work out of the bullpen in Erie to begin building up his pitch count. It didn't take long to see that not only did Ferrell possess the makings of a closer, he was very good at it. He soon embraced the role full-time and proceeded to dominate the position, converting 12 of 13 save attempts for the SeaWolves. With a 1.67 ERA over 27 innings of work, Ferrell struck out 35 and allowed a lowly five earned runs to the opposition.

As the month of June came to a close, the Tigers' front office decided on shifting the right hander once again; this time to join in with Triple-A Toledo. In his debut with the Mud Hens on June 29, Ferrell lived up to expectations, earning himself another save.

Both Wagner and Jason Beck of MLB.com speculated that Ferrell's call-up might be more than just a one-for-one swap. Wagner says that the Tigers are "contemplating big moves" (big being a relative term for this organization). A bit of shuffling makes sense; the bullpen is taxed and many Tigers relievers have not performed well of late.

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