The Tigers announced they’ve placed right-hander Spencer Turnbull on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 7 with neck discomfort. As Evan Woodbery of MLive explains, Turnbull had been optioned to Triple-A but this move means his option has been rescinded and he’ll spend time on major league IL. Had Turnbull reported the injury at Triple-A, he would’ve gone on the minor league IL and not earned service time, but his service time clock will continue while he’s on the big league IL.
Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports that Turnbull met with president of baseball operations Scott Harris, manager AJ Hinch and pitching coach Chris Fetter after his last start when the Tigers optioned him back to Triple-A Toledo. “After Spencer left the room I got a call from him directly in which he disclosed some neck discomfort,” Harris said. “As soon as we heard that, we set up an appointment for him with our doctor. We also had him see a specialist out of state. We had those doctors discuss what’s going on with his neck. They confirmed the injury and we placed him on the injured list as of Sunday.”
Turnbull is two seasons away from free agency, but if he spends more than 35 days in the minor leagues he’ll have his free agency year pushed back by a season. Once a promising young member of the Tigers rotation, Turnbull has struggled in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, working to a 7.26 ERA in seven starts. That figure comes with a 16.6% strikeout rate and a 10.3% walk rate.
Just two years ago Turnbull tossed nine starts of 2.88 ERA ball and appeared on the verge of a breakout, but after Tommy John surgery ruled him out of the entire 2022 season it appears he’s yet to find his groove again. His strikeouts are down, walks are up and he’s given up a lot more hard contact this year than he did two seasons ago.
Because this transaction replaces Turnbull being optioned five days, there is no corresponding move to make, and it’s also worth noting that Turnbull’s IL placement is retroactive to May 7, so he could return in just a handful of days.
