Detroit Tigers claim Troy Stokes Jr. off waivers

The Detroit Tigers have claimed outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. In a corresponding move, the team has released left-handed pitcher Ryan Carpenter to make room on the 40-man roster.

The move is somewhat unexpected this late in the season, as Stokes is the first position player to be claimed by the Tigers this year.

Stokes, a 2014 fourth-round pick, is a 5’8 right-handed hitting outfielder who has spent all of 2019 in Triple-A San Antonio at 23 years old. He has shown flashes of power — he has 57 home runs across six minor league seasons, including 20 in 2017 and 19 in 2018 — but, his main draw appears to be his speed. Stokes has stolen 128 bases and been caught just 30 times in his minor league career.

Stokes is able to draw walks, showing strong plate discipline. He has a career .351 on-base percentage compared to a .250 batting average. Strikeouts are a problem, however, with 504 in 554 minor league games.

Stokes will not report immediately, but expect him to to make his way to Detroit sooner rather than later.

The departing Carpenter has struggled across his 15 games between 2018 and 2019 as a Tiger, pitching to a 8.57 ERA and 7.10 FIP in 63 innings in the big leagues. He allowed 20 home runs, and struck out 40 batters. A 21st-round pick in 2008, the 29-year-old has been granted his release, allowing him to become a free agent without having to wait out the waiver process.