Jonathan Schoop placed on 10-day IL; Niko Goodrum activated

The Detroit Tigers have placed 2B Jonathan Schoop on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist sprain retroactive to September 13. According to manager Ron Gardenhire, Schoop injured his wrist while swinging and was going to need three-to-four days no matter what and, with the injured list designation, he will now miss at least seven.

Despite a recent cold spell, which corresponds with the wrist issue, Schoop has been one of the team’s more reliable hitters, slashing .278/.324/.475 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 44 games. His home run count leads the team. His defense at second base has been solid as well, posting a career-high 10.5 UZR/150.

In a corresponding move, the team recalled Niko Goodrum from the injured list after not playing since September 1 with an oblique injury. Goodrum’s season has not gone as planned, especially at the plate, having slashed .186/.264/.644, though he has flashed some power with five home runs in only 31 games. His strength has come in the field, where he has played well above average as the Tigers’ primary shortstop this season.

Interestingly, Goodrum will not reprise his role at the position — instead, he will fill Schoop’s spot at second base while rookie Willi Castro occupies the starting shortstop slot. While he’s only played 25 games this season, Castro has been a negative at the position so far, posting a negative-18.1 UZR/150. Many believe he will eventually end up as a corner outfielder or, ironically, a second baseman in the future if his bat continues to play the way it has so far. However, given that the Tigers appear to have officially fallen out of the playoff race, it makes sense that they are willing to let the rookie finish his audition at shortstop.

Both players are in tonight’s lineup against the Kansas City Royals with Castro hitting second at shortstop and Goodrum hitting fifth at second base.

In another move, the Tigers have also optioned struggling backup catcher Grayson Greiner to their Toledo training site. Eric Haase, rather than Jake Rogers, has been recalled and will probably see a fair amount of action. The Tigers seem to like Haase and would presumably like to see him get a few plate appearances against big league pitching. The 27-year-old minor league journeyman catcher was acquired after the Cleveland Indians released him last offseason. He’s been the team’s third catcher on the taxi squad this season and the Tigers feel he’s earned a brief look.

Haase has only had 34 plate appearances in the majors, all with Cleveland. He boasts huge raw power, but has yet to hit with any consistency even at the Triple-A level, where he posted a 35.4 strikeout rate in 2019.