DETROIT -- Alex Wilson was in the middle of trying to recapture a spot in the Tigers bullpen while remaking his game as a sidearming reliever when the coronavirus pandemic forced Spring Training to shut down. As camps prepare to get going again, Wilson has another decision to make on his career.

The Tigers announced Thursday that they’ve granted Wilson his unconditional release. The move ends the 33-year-old right-hander’s attempted return to Detroit, where he was a workhorse reliever from 2015 to 2018.

Though Major League Baseball’s roster freeze doesn’t lift until Friday, Wilson was in Tigers camp as a non-roster invite, having signed a Minor League contract in January. He returned hoping to provide another arm and a leadership presence in a bullpen that could feature a bevy of youngsters.

Wilson showed a versatility in the first version of Tigers camp, raising and dropping his arm angle to try to keep hitters off balance. The numbers showed it was a work in progress, as he allowed eight runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings with two walks, four strikeouts and three wild pitches.

Tigers general manager Al Avila said Wednesday he had a 60-man summer camp roster close to set, barring last-minute changes. He clearly had reached a decision that Wilson wouldn’t be a part of it, a potential indication of the club’s intent to keep several prospects on the taxi squad rather than veteran depth options. By making a move now, the Tigers allow Wilson a few days to try to land in another team’s camp ahead of Sunday’s roster deadline.

“I know that I’m ready to pitch in the big leagues right now,” Wilson told MLB.com in a text message, “and I know that I can pitch in the big leagues right now, so hopefully someone gives me a chance.”

If no team signs Wilson, he’ll have a decision to make. Even before Spring Training was shut down, he was taking online classes towards a master’s degree in performance psychology, with an eye towards a potential post-playing career as a performance coach.