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Infante back in the lineup; Perez optioned to Triple-A

CHICAGO -- Second baseman Omar Infante returned to the Tigers lineup, batting seventh, for Monday night's series opener against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Infante had been shelved since July 4, when he was retroactively placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain. He played five games at Triple-A Toledo, batting .211 (4-for-19) and was 0-for-3 in his final tuneup Sunday.

The second baseman was 0-for-4 in Detroit's 6-2 loss.

"He's just got to get back in the swing of things," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "The speed of the game up here is a little more than it is in Triple-A, obviously, and he'll get back into the speed of it and is going to be fine."

Fellow infielder Hernan Perez was optioned to Toledo to make room for Infante. The 22-year-old Perez appeared in seven games in his second stint with the Tigers this season, getting only two hits -- each on Aug. 8 -- while making four starts.

Leyland said he believes the young infielder has a bright future.

"I think Perez has a chance to be a really good Major League player and a really good offensive player, as well as defense," Leyland said. "I think he's got a chance to be a real good all-around player."

Cash Kruth is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @cashkruth.
Read More: Detroit Tigers, Hernan Perez, Omar Infante