LAKELAND, Fla. -- Now the work truly begins.
After the Joba Chamberlain signing was announced, the Tigers held their first full-squad workout at Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium.
Under cloudy skies, the Tigers went through their drills, pitchers fielding practice (PFP), bunting drills, bullpens and batting practice.
"It went well except for the rain there at the end," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "One of the hitting groups came off a little early because of the rain. But it was the last one. It didn't really affect us. They'll get plenty of swings over the course of the next month and a half, or five and a half weeks, whatever it is."
Ausmus said no one enjoys when the hitters stand in while the pitchers throw.
"From experience, I can tell you it's not a lot of fun," Ausmus said. "I don't think the pitchers particularly love it either. The worst thing you can do is hit your teammate. But it's a necessary evil."
Ausmus said he still remembers being hit by Manuel Barrios.
Once the games start, then they won't have to worry about it. For now, it's just another part of spring training.
IGLESIAS IN SPIKES
Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias has been bouncing around camp in his highlighter orange or highlighter yellow sneakers but he did change into spikes to hit.
"I start with shoes because that's less impact," Iglesias said. "When defensive activity increases or speed increases, I use spikes."
Ausmus said the Tigers will monitor the situation.
"We don't want him pounding it too much right out of the gate," Ausmus said. "I'm sure he'll let Kevin (Rand, head athletic trainer) know if there's an issue."
Iglesias missed all of the 2014 season with bilateral tibial stress fractures.
TRAMMELL IN UNIFORM
It was a welcome sight to see Alan Trammell wearing the Olde English D again.
Trammell, a special assistant to president and general manager Dave Dombrowski, will be in uniform the whole spring.
"Initially he's going to be working with the infielders," Ausmus said. "But I told him he's free to get involved with anything he wants so he'll be in any discussions that involve personnel or tactics, strategy, etc. He'll be on the field."
Trammell told Jim Price, the team's radio analyst, that it felt great to be back in the Tigers uniform again.
GREINER RETURNS TO ACTION
Catcher Grayson Greiner was a much happier camper Tuesday.
Greiner returned to action after missing a few days because of a torn fingernail on his right ring finger.
He hurt it the first day of pitchers and catchers workouts when he was blocking a ball and it jumped up and bent back the fingernail at a 90-degree angle.
Greiner had to wait for the bleeding and swelling to subside so the nail would go back down.
"I've been sitting around for the past three days so I was running around like a little kid today," Greiner said.
Greiner, a very large kid at 6-6, 215 pounds, was happy just to be able to take part in some activities.
"It went well," Greiner said. "I got to long toss, got out to about 120 feet, no pain at all. Felt fine throwing. I gripped a bat for about 15 minutes just to get used to it again. I'm going to try to swing some tomorrow. So it all felt good."
Greiner said he did do a little catching but not too much just yet.
"They had enough catchers so they didn't want to rush it back," Greiner said. "I don't know about blocking or anything like that. The nail's still kind of up. But it's much better today than it has been."
***If multimedia does not appear right away, please click refresh***
COMPLETE TIGERS SPRING TRAINING 2015 COVERAGE
