Ian Krol to rehab with 'Caps on road
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Detroit Tigers' left-handed reliever Ian Krol is scheduled to begin a rehab stint with the West Michigan Whitecaps on the road Friday night, the Tigers and Whitecaps announced on Thursday.
The Whitecaps begin a 10-game road trip on Friday night with a weekend series at Fort Wayne. Krol, a 23-year-old lefty acquired from the Washington Nationals as part of the Doug Fister trade in December, is expected to pitch one inning on Friday night and may also pitch an inning on Sunday.
Krol will become the 15th member of the Detroit Tigers to play for the Whitecaps on an injury rehab.
A Major League rookie with the Nationals in 2013, Krol has made 35 relief appearances this season with the Tigers. He is 0-0 with a 4.32 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 25 innings. The 6-foot-1 southpaw, on the disabled list since June 21 with inflammation in his left shoulder, was cleared to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment after completing his third bullpen session on Wednesday.
Krol has pitched at Parkview Field before - as a 2010 Midwest League All-Star.
Originally a seventh-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2009 draft, Krol starred with the Midwest League's Kane County Cougars in 2010. He was 9-4 with a 2.65 ERA as a starting pitcher for the Cougars and pitched for the Western Division squad at the Midwest League All-Star Classic, which was hosted by the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field.
Krol was eventually traded from Oakland to Washington in March of 2013, setting the stage for a Major League debut in which he was 2-1 with a 3.95 ERA in 32 relief appearances out of the Nationals' bullpen. In December, Krol was sent along with Robbie Ray and Steve Lombardozzi to Detroit in exchange for Doug Fister.
Prior to embarking on Friday's road trip, the Whitecaps conclude their seven-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark on Thursday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch against the Lansing Lugnuts. RHP Jonathon Crawford (4-2, 2.60) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski (6-2, 3.33) of Lansing as the Whitecaps celebrate Independence Day one night early with an Altogas Thrifty Thursday, patriotic promotions and a Family Fare fireworks show. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.