Tigers right-hander Bruce Rondon made just one regular-season appearance after September 2 due to tenderness in his throwing elbow and has not pitched yet in the 2013 postseason. But the hard-throwing 22-year-old Venezuelan is still working to get back.
MLB.com’s Jason Beck reports that Rondon began a throwing program this weekend at the Tigers’ spring training complex in Florida and has experienced no issues so far with his right elbow. He’s only doing light games of catch and still has quite a few hurdles to jump, but the fact that the Tigers are keeping his rehab program going suggests that they believe he could be available if the team is able to advance to the World Series.
Rondon posted a 3.45 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 28 2/3 innings of relief this season for the American League Central-champion Tigers while averaging 97.9 mph with his fastball. He could very well be Detroit’s closer next year, whether or not impending free agent Joaquin Benoit is brought back.