Justyn-Henry

Malloy

Malloy was designated for assignment by the Tigers late in December, but the two teams were able to facilitate a trade before he went through waivers. The 25-year-old hit .221/.346/.308 in 127 plate appearances for the Tigers last season, but he also hit .322/.453/.502 with nine home runs and six steals in 72 games at Triple-A. He has tremendous plate discipline and has never been able to pull the ball in the Majors at the same rate that he did in Triple-A, so you can see why Tampa Bay felt like taking a shot on him. He has two more option years, so he does not have to make the big league club out of spring training.

The 25-year-old Malloy gets bumped from the 40-man roster after hitting .221/.346/.308 in 127 plate appearances in the majors last season. The on-base skills are real, but between his modest power, his struggles to hit for average and his lack of defensive ability, he seems like a fringy major leaguer. We still imagine someone will claim him off waivers and see if maybe they can get him to generate more bat speed. That he has two option years left is nice.

Keith has been added to Detroit’s roster after missing the club’s Wild Card Series against Cleveland with right rib cage inflammation. The 24-year-old figures to get plenty of opportunities to face Seattle’s righty-heavy rotation. Reliever Brenan Hanifee is the only other new addition with Justyn-Henry Malloy and Paul Sewald being excluded.

Malloy will be up to potentially provided some help off the bench — or get some time against left-handers — for the final five games of the season. Jace Jung was optioned to Toledo in the corresponding move.

Malloy returns to the minors with Chris Paddack back from bereavement leave. There isn’t a spot for him with Detroit now that center fielder Parker Meadows is back from the injured list.

Tonight, at least, it seems that the Tigers will play with 14 position players and 12 pitchers. Meadows, who missed five weeks with a quad strain, will contend for starts in center field against righties. Wenceel Pérez and Javier Báez have been sharing time there, with Pérez also getting starts in right. Justyn-Henry Malloy could be sent down when the Tigers go back to 13 pitchers.

The 25-year-old lefty masher joins the Tigers as a September call-up, adding another valuable option to the team’s bench for the stretch run. Malloy has hit just .208/.339/.281 with a homer, 16 RBI and a 31/19 K/BB ratio in 118 plate appearances with the Tigers on the season.

It was a short stint for Malloy in the majors, as he was just recalled Wednesday. He’ll head back to Toledo with Reese Olson (finger) activated off the injured list. Malloy will be back at some point this summer.

Malloy provides Detroit with some extra right-handed pop for the second contest of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Padres. The 25-year-old has posted a respectable .638 OPS with one homer and 16 RBI across 45 games this season in the big leagues.

Malloy was hitting .215/.348/.290 while mostly playing against lefties. His patience at the plate ensures a respectable OBP, but he’s going to have to hit for more power in order to stick in the majors. He had just one homer in 115 plate appearances this season.