Tigers Purchase Contracts of Five Players

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has purchased the contracts of lefthanded pitcher Matt Hoffman from Triple A Toledo, righthanded pitcher Tyler Stohr and lefthanded pitcher Casey Crosby from Double A Erie, outfielder Avisail Garcia from Single A Lakeland and infielder Hernan Perez from
Single A West Michigan.

Hoffman, 23, spent the majority of the 2011 season with Triple A Toledo, compiling a 2-5 record and 3.18 ERA (62.1IP/22ER). He limited International League opponents to a .253 batting average (60x237) with the Mud Hens last season. Additionally, Hoffman appeared in one game with Double A Erie during the 2011 season.

Stohr, 25, split the 2011 season between Single A Lakeland and Double A Erie. He finished 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA (31.1IP/12ER) in 24 outings with Lakeland last season. Stohr posted a 0-2 record and 4.21 ERA (25.2IP/12ER) in 20 appearances with Erie. He limited Florida State League opponents to a .214 batting average (24x112), while opponents batted .234 (22x94) against Stohr in Eastern League action. Stohr has appeared in 13 games with Salt River in the Arizona Fall League following the season, compiling a 4.63 ERA (11.2IP/6ER).

Crosby, 23, posted a 9-7 record, 4.10 ERA (131.2IP/60ER) and 121 strikeouts in 25 starts with Double A Erie during the 2011 season. He was selected to the Eastern League’s mid-season all-star squad. Crosby has appeared in 11 games with Salt River in the Arizona Fall League following the season, posting a 2-0 record, 1.32 ERA (13.2IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts.

Garcia, 20, batted .264 (129x488) with 16 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs, 56 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 129 games with Single A Lakeland during the 2011 season. He has appeared in six games with Anzoategui in the Venezuelan Winter League following the season, hitting .300 (3x10).

Perez, 20, hit .258 (130x503) with 23 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 42 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 129 games with Single A West Michigan during the 2011 season. He was selected to both the Midwest League’s mid- and post-season all-star squads. In 18 games with Salt River in the Arizona Fall League following the season, he is batting .302 (19x63) with six doubles and nine RBI.

Additionally, the Tigers today announced the club has outrighted the contract of infielder Cale Iorg to Triple A Toledo. Iorg hit .208 (65x312) with 18 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 21 RBI in 88 games with Toledo during the 2011 season. In 26 games with Double A Erie, he batted .167 (14x84) with a double, two home runs and six RBI.