Little was made of the Tigers' decision to sign Mike Fiers in 2017. Little was made of the trade that sent him to the A's the next August. And little was made of the prospects the Tigers got back in return: two players to be named later.
When they arrived, the intrigue centered on starting pitcher Logan Shore, a former second-round pick.
Two years later, reliever Nolan Blackwood is the one to watch. The lanky righty with a sidearm delivery could emerge as a key piece in the Tigers' bullpen as soon as this season.
"We were excited in spring training," Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday. "I've always liked a little different look and a little funk. I know when I stood behind the batting cage and he dropped down to the side, I buckled a little bit."
Blackwood didn't show the Tigers much when he arrived at the end of 2018. Then last year he posted a 1.76 ERA and struck out nearly a better per inning in 41 appearances for Double-A Erie. On a different team, it might have attracted more attention. Three of the top pitching prospects in baseball happened to be the bigger story.
But Blackwood, 25, got the attention of the Tigers. They invited him to big-league camp this spring, and he responded by allowing two hits and one run over five appearances. Gardenire wasn't the only one thrown off balance. With his 6'5 frame and whippy delivery, Blackwood isn't easy to square up.
"The ball comes out in a funny place, he's got great movement, and he's long and tall. The whole package," Gardenhire said. "Those guys are always fun to take a look at."
So the Tigers brought Blackwood back for Summer Camp, one of 30 pitchers in their 60-player pool. After Joe Jimenez and Buck Farmer, there are spots up for grabs in the bullpen. Blackwood just might snag one, assuming he pitches well in intrasquad games -- and assuming Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson can convince Al Avila.
"This guy's put himself in a good position here," said Gardenhire. "He's in a battle for our bullpen. That's just myself saying that and talking with Andy. We haven't gone through the big boss yet, but we'll be throwing things at him trying to put the best bullpen together. (Blackwood's) definitely in the mix. We like what we see."
Another lesser-known name to watch in the bullpen is Rony Garcia. The Tigers claimed him from the Yankees with the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft last December, so they'll be compelled to keep him on the roster this season. The 22-year-old has a heater that continues to get hotter and a good slider to go with it.
Like Blackwood, Garcia impressed in spring training. And he impressed Wednesday in the Tigers' first intrasquad scrimmage of Summer Camp, recording three strikeouts and allowing one hit -- a broken-bat single -- in 2 1/3 innings.
"He threw the living fire out of the ball," Gardenhire said. "We had the view from the (third base) dugout and man, the ball was jumping. Our hitters said it was jumping. That's what you have to do if you're going to make an impression. You have to be ready when you get your opportunities, and he really threw it good today.
"It's just a start, but that's the way you're supposed to do it. Go in and pound the strike zone, move the ball around and really have it jumping out off your hand."
