Louis Coleman is back with the Detroit Tigers.
The Tigers agreed to terms on Minor League contracts with Spring Training invites with four players on Wednesday, and the list looks familiar. Coleman, the sidearming reliever who made 51 appearances out of Detroit’s bullpen this year, was one of four deals made official.
Coleman, a longtime Schlater resident and former Pillow Academy standout who turns 33 years old in April, enjoyed a career resurgence in the Tigers’ bullpen after being called up from Triple-A Toledo in May.
The right-hander, a former LSU star, allowed 43 hits over 511/3 innings, with 24 walks and 41 strikeouts, recording five holds while suffering three blown saves.
The Tigers removed Coleman from the 40-man roster once the season ended, making him a free agent rather than going through arbitration.
Coleman’s return provides Detroit with some much-needed bullpen depth after Alex Wilson was non-tendered last week, just as Wilson does for the club at catcher following James McCann’s non-tender.
The Tigers are expected to hand catching duties to Grayson Greiner and John Hicks, but they have been looking for veteran depth on Minor League deals.
