Story by
Detroit Tigers starter Reese Olson experienced 'a lot of growth' as rookie in 2023 season
- Story by
- Detroit Tigers starter Reese Olson experienced 'a lot of growth' as rookie in 2023 season
Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson ran into trouble at the beginning of Tuesday's start — the 21st and final appearance of his rookie season — an eventual 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals .
But Olson fixed his tempo during the game and bounced back to deliver 5⅔ innings. The 24-year-old generated 22 swings and misses combined on all five of his pitches, which led to seven strikeouts.
Advertisement
"Definitely a lot of growth," Olson said. "It was a pretty good example. Earlier in the year, I don't know if I would have done a good enough job of settling down and slowing down. What I learned is that I have what it takes. I have good enough stuff. I can command it well enough to get outs."
TEAMMATES: 'True partnership' between Tigers' Scott Harris, Jeff Greenberg began at Wrigley Field
Tigers pitcher Reese Olson pitches during the first inning against the Royals on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Comerica Park.
Five mistakes from Olson — a fielding error, a wild pitch, a single, a walk and a balk — in the second inning resulted in one run for the Royals. He stranded two runners in scoring position, though, when his slider struck out Maikel Garcia for the third out.
Advertisement
By the end of his outing, Olson had surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. He threw 92 pitches, giving him at least 90 in each of his final four starts. (Olson set a career-high at 104 pitches on Sept. 8 against the Chicago White Sox , roughly three months after his MLB debut.)
"He came up and really did anchor a staff for a while," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's continuing to put up quality innings. I don't know where his final numbers ended up, but I know they're impressive."
In the 2023 season, Olson posted a 3.99 ERA with 33 walks (7.8% walk rate) and 103 strikeouts (24.4% strikeout rate) across 103⅔ innings. That was despite posting a 6.38 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Toledo before the Tigers called him up.
He racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts Aug. 28 against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park, but he walked four batters. His walk rate went from 7.5% with Double-A Erie in 2022 to 12.6% with Toledo in 2023 to 7.8% with the Tigers in 2023, all while maintaining a high volume of strikeouts.
Advertisement
The strikeout numbers should increase over the next few seasons as he continues to learn the art of sequencing his pitches.
"Our team feels good when he's on the mound," Hinch said. "He's established a routine that I think he can carry into the winter and into next season. To be a reliable starting pitcher at this level so soon, that should be pretty satisfying for him."
Olson seems to have locked in his role as a member of the Tigers' starting rotation in the 2024 season, barring a trade. He is ready to get into the offseason and — after a period of rest — begin his preparation for spring training.
The next showcase begins in February.
Advertisement
"I'm excited to go back to work this offseason," Olson said, "and get ready for next year."
Alex Faedo 's procedure
Right-handed reliever Alex Faedo underwent a procedure on his right middle fingernail in Phoenix on Wednesday and won't return to the Tigers in the 2023 season. Before the procedure, the Tigers had figured Faedo might be available to pitch on the final day of the regular season.
CULTURE BUILT: A.J. Hinch gives Tigers elimination speech with changed tone: 'Hope this is the last year'
This year, Faedo has undergone two operations on his right middle fingernail.
Advertisement
"They're going to address the issue that he's had," Hinch said. "When it's grown into creating blisters on his fingertip, on the outside of his nail, apparently there's a procedure you can do to correct that."
The Tigers recently moved Faedo to the bullpen . He logged an 4.45 ERA with 20 walks and 58 strikeouts over 15 games (12 starts) and should compete for a long-reliever role in 2024 spring training.
Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera hits a fly ball for an out against the Royals during the sixth inning on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Comerica Park.
DISTANT REPLAY: Miguel Cabrera's biggest games: 5 days that defined him as a Marlin
Miggy's schedule
Designated hitter Miguel Cabrera , who started Tuesday and Wednesday, won't play Thursday in the series finale against the Royals. He will rest up before ending his 21-year career.
Advertisement
The 40-year-old is scheduled to start in all three games against the Cleveland Guardians — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — to finish the season. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez , Cabrera's countryman, is slated to start Sunday in the final game of Cabrera's career.
Left-hander Joey Wentz will pitch Friday, and the Tigers will implement a bullpen-only game for Saturday's matchup. Although they've both been eliminated from American League Central contention, there's still bragging rights at stake with second place in the division up for grabs; the Tigers entered their game Wednesday with a half-game lead on the Guardians after Cleveland lost to Cincinnati in the afternoon.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Reese Olson on 2023 lessons: 'I have what it takes'
