Kenny

Baugh

Baugh, a first-round pick in 2001, has been throwing off a mound. He’ll be assigned to Double-A Erie once he’s ready to pitch in games.

Baugh looked like one of the best pitchers to come out of the 2001 draft before his shoulder became a problem. If he has his old stuff back, he could be a factor before the end of the year.

Baugh, the Tigers’ top draft pick two years ago, could be turning things around. He missed last season because of shoulder surgery. After returning this May Baugh didn’t have a quality start in his first six starts, including three games in which he gave up at least seven earned runs.

Baugh had been working his way back from shoulder surgery at Single-A Lakeland, going 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts.

Baugh has had a fine season, but the 2001 first-round pick has been left with below average stuff after shoulder surgery and the Tigers aren’t sure he’ll be able to have any success in the majors. It’s possible that he’ll be called up and see innings as a middle reliever next month.

The Tigers have completely filled their 40-man roster, but if they want to sign free agents, they have plenty of mediocre pitchers who are candidates to be dropped. Baugh, a 2001 first-round pick, spent last year working his way back from shoulder surgery, going 10-9 with a 4.48 ERA in 23 starts between Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. The Tigers will have to hope he’s closer to 100 percent next year.

Baugh, who is coming back from shoulder surgery, did a solid job in the Florida State League, but he has struggled since returning to Double-A. In four starts, he has a 9.15 ERA and has given up seven homers.

Baugh likely would have been DFA’d to make room for Kenny Rogers, so the Tigers got a little something for him. Steik, 21, had a 2.40 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 60 innings as a reliever for low Single-A Fort Wayne last season. Baugh, who lost his best stuff when he hurt his shoulder, went 12-8 with a 3.38 ERA, 159 H and 107/60 K/BB in 165 1/3 IP for Triple-A Toledo. A trade to San Diego is about the best thing he could have hoped for, but he still looks like nothing more than a middle reliever.

The Padres had enough interest in Baugh to trade the Tigers a low-level prospect for him in December, even though he was expected to become available on waivers, but they gave him just one inning with which to prove himself this spring. It doesn’t bode well for his chances.