Tigers’ Al Alburquerque shaking off concussion
The amazing Al Alburquerque said Tuesday he was feeling good.
He has been amazing most of the season because, as a rookie, he has struck out 57 batters in 37 innings. On Tuesday, he was amazing because he played catch and then smiled as he talked about it, just four days after suffering a concussion when hit above the ear by an Orioles liner during batting practice.
“I feel good every day,” Alburquerque said. “My balance is normal now. I can do everything. I’m sleeping really good.”
Pitching coach Jeff Jones said Alburquerque threw on flat ground Tuesday, first at 90 feet and then at 60 feet (the mound-to-home distance plus 6 inches). “Everything looked good,” Jones said.
Alburquerque is due to have a CAT scan today. If that goes well, he could soon make his practice tosses from the mound. He’s eligible to return this weekend.
The Tigers didn’t want to risk having Alburquerque fly just two days after he suffered the concussion in Baltimore. Tyson Steele, the director of team travel, arranged for a car to bring Alburquerque to Detroit on Sunday. Assistant athletic trainer Doug Teter accompanied him.
“It was long, but it was good,” Alburquerque said of the drive.
SIGNED UP: Shortly before Monday’s deadline, the Tigers signed 15th-round pick Tyler Gibson, a high school shortstop from Georgia whom Baseball America projects as a pro outfielder. David Chadd, the Tigers’ vice president for amateur scouting, saluted scouting director Scott Pleis for working on signing Gibson, who was bound for Georgia Tech. “We are extremely excited about Tyler’s overall skill set: a left-handed batter with power and a plus runner,” Chadd said. The Tigers lost their first-round pick this year as compensation for signing free agent Victor Martinez. They signed their top-19 picks (everyone in rounds 2-20).
NOTEBOOK: Alex Avila singled, doubled and tripled Monday night, and he prevented a homer. Is that a cycle? “I guess you could look at it that way,” Avila said. “That’s kind of funny.” Avila prevented the homer when he tagged out Ben Revere in a collision as the Twins outfielder tried for an inside-the-park home run. … On the night after his 600th homer, Jim Thome wasn’t in the Twins’ starting lineup. “Thome is gassed,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. But he did pinch-hit. He struck out to end the game.
Contact John Lowe: 313-223-4053 or jlowe@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freeptigers.