Tyler

Collins

Collins, 22, hit .290/.371/.429 at Single-A Lakeland last season and is due to move up to Double-A. The 2011 sixth-round pick does a little bit of everything at the plate and is one of the Tigers’ top position prospects. Still, he’s going to need to turn some of last year’s doubles into homers if he’s going to make it as a regular in an outfield corner.

He hasn’t played since jamming his thumb on a stolen base attempt Monday. Maybin remains day-to-day. Tyler Collins is in center field Sunday.

Collins’ solo shot in the top of the ninth inning off Chicago closer David Robertson was part of a three-homer barrage that tied the game at 4-4. But the White Sox rallied in the bottom of the frame to grab the 5-4 walkoff win. Collins had been sidelined for a couple of days due to muscle spasms in his neck.

Collins took a Yordano Ventura fastball off the knee on Wednesday night. X-rays turned up negative, but manager Brad Ausmus said “it’ll probably be a few days.”

He pinch-ran for Miguel Cabrera in the eighth inning and stayed in the game to play left field. Collins bruised his knee against the Royals on Wednesday but obviously he’s feeling much better. The 26-year-old has posted a .227 average over 97 at-bats this season.

Collins clubbed a three-run homer that capped off a seven-run second inning to put the Tigers ahead 9-2. He then tripled and scored a run in the fifth inning. Even with his two-hit attack, Collins is hitting just .204/.235/.449 with three homers and nine RBI on the season, and he’s likely headed for a trip back to Triple-A Toledo once J.D. Martinez completes his rehab assignment.

Collins didn’t agree with Dan Iassogna’s strike zone after he struck out looking in the eighth inning. He went 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts before getting tossed.

Uh oh. Maybin made his return last weekend after missing a couple of weeks with a left thumb sprain and it appears that he aggravated the injury while attempting to steal second base in the fifth inning. The Tigers should pass along an update soon. Tyler Collins replaced Maybin in the lineup.

Mike Aviles will draw the start in right field and bat seventh versus Twins right-hander Ervin Santana. Collins is probably going to be labeled as day-to-day.

Collins was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup due to neck spasms and required a “chiropractic adjustment.” Mike Aviles will get another start in the outfield.