Detroit Tigers Hire Ex-Major League Pitcher to Key Post on Big League Staff

This does not mean that Axelrod is the team's pitching coach, but he will have a significant role in developing pitchers and will likely be involved in developing gameplans against opponents. Axelrod previously worked with the Los Angeles Angels.

The 38-year-old Axelrod spent five years in the big leagues with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. He made his major league debut in 2011 and pitched until 2015. Lifetime, he was a 9-15 pitcher with a 5.27 ERA. While not a great year, his biggest body of work came in the 2013 season. He started 20 games for Chicago that year, going 4-11.

With the Tigers, he'll have the opportunity to work with a staff that has several young and intriguing arms in it. Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning were supposed to make up the nucleus of the next great Tigers' team, but unfortunately the trio has struggled to stay healthy.

Mize is coming back from Tommy John surgery and will be ready for Opening Day, per reports.

In addition to the young arms, the team has brought in free agents Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda this offseason.

Detroit finished second in the American League Central in 2023.