Austin Jackson has returned, and Avisail Garcia has departed.
The regular center fielder is back for the Detroit Tigers, and another outfielder expected to become a fixture in the years ahead returned to Toledo. The club announced the 25-man roster adjustments prior to Friday night’s game with the Twins in Minneapolis.
Jackson missed nearly five weeks with a pulled left hamstring, but will return to the leadoff spot and patrolling center.
Garcia, who turned 22 on Wednesday, started 14 games in center and two in right while subbing for Jackson. He batted .288 with three doubles, one triple, two homers and 10 RBI in 66 at-bats.
“He might look pretty comfortable out there,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said recently, “but he needs a lot of work in center field. I’d say he’s a corner (outfield) guy. He has a tendency to drift a bit.
“But he’s really accounted very well for himself. He’s swung the bat better than I’ve seen him.”
His mentor, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, said, “He’s gotten better every day. Everything in his game is better, but his approach at the plate is definitely better.”
Jackson tried playing through the hamstring injury, but his batting average dropped to .272 before he went on the disabled list May 12. He was leading the American League with 33 runs at the time, and had seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 11 RBI.
In three games with the Toledo Mud Hens, Jackson batted .231 with five strikeouts in 13 at-bats. He scored one run and drove in one run.
TOP PICK SIGNS: The Tigers also announced Friday the signing of first-round pick Jonathan Crawford. The right-handed power pitcher was 3-6 with a 3.84 ERA at the University of Florida this season. However, Detroit’s front office is impressed with his stuff and performances against top competition.
Crawford was 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA and two wins over Cuba in six appearances for Team USA, and he posted a 2.05 ERA in 22 innings of NCAA tournament pitching that included a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman.
GAME TIME ADJUSTED: Tonight’s first pitch will be at 8:35 p.m., moved back 25 minutes for an on-field, pregame presentation at Target Field.
