CLEVELAND — As the Guardians get set to begin a four-game series in Detroit Thursday night, the team has made a bevy of roster moves both out of necessity and an apparent desire for change.
Cleveland has placed outfielder and designated hitter Franmil Reyes on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness, one day after putting starting pitcher Aaron Civale on the 15-day IL with glute issues. In addition, struggling utility infielder Yu Chang has been designated for assignment, which could bring his up-and-down tenure with the club to an end after parts of four seasons.
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The power-hitting Reyes belted 30 home runs in 2021 but has faltered from the get-go this season, hitting only .195 with three homers and a miniscule .533 OPS. The 26-year-old sat out Wednesday's game in Houston and is 4 for his last 36 at bats.
Chang, a career .208 hitter with a .988 fielding percentage, is 0 for 10 with seven strikeouts this year and missed a good chunk of time on the COVID-19 injured list. Since he has been removed from the 40-man roster and is out of minor league options, the Guardians now have a week to either trade him, release him, or place him on waivers. Should he be waived and go unclaimed, the team could then outright him to the minors, as they did with first baseman Bobby Bradley earlier this season.
To replace Reyes on the roster, rookie outfielder Richie Palacios has been called back up from Triple-A Columbus. The 25-year-old New York native is batting .270 with two RBIs in 12 games so far with Cleveland.
In addition, with Chang now off the 40-man, fellow outfielder Oscar González's contract has also been selected and the 24-year-old will make his major league debut tonight in right field, batting sixth. The Dominican product hit a combined 31 home runs for both Akron and Columbus a year ago and is currently hitting .282 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 41 games with the Clippers in 2022. He has spent eight seasons in the minors up to this point.
With Civale out for at least two weeks, rookie lefty Konnor Pilkington will start in his place Thursday against the Tigers. He sports a 2.08 ERA in four appearances for the Guardians this season and allowed two runs across 3 2/3 innings in his first MLB start back on May 8, striking out six in the process.