Tyler Collins (baseball)

Tyler Collins

Collins with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers – No. 18
Outfielder
Born: (1990-06-06) June 6, 1990
Lubbock, Texas
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
March 31, 2014, for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .253
Home runs 9
Runs batted in 44
Teams

Tyler James Collins (born June 6, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Collins graduated from Northwest High School in Justin, Texas. He began his college baseball career at Baylor University, playing for the Baylor Bears baseball team. After his freshman year, he transferred to Howard College, where he played for the Howard Hawks.[1] He was named the 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Baseball Player of the Year award, after he led the NJCAA Division I with 19 home runs and finished second with a .488 batting average and 82 runs batted in (RBIs).[2]

Collins with the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2012

Following the 2011 season, Collins committed to transfer to Texas Christian University (TCU) to play for the TCU Horned Frogs.[1][3]

Professional career

Collins was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB draft.[4] Collins signed with the Tigers, rather than transfer to TCU.[1] Following the regular season, he played for the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League, and was named to the 2011 Australian Baseball League All-Star Game where he earned the game MVP award. After the 2013 season, the Tigers assigned him to the Arizona Fall League.[5]

On March 29, 2014, the Detroit Tigers purchased Collins' contract from Double-A Erie, and added him to the 25-man roster.[6] The Tigers intended for Collins to serve as a backup and platoon partner with Rajai Davis.[7] He made his Major League debut March 31, 2014, as a pinch runner for Alex Avila in the bottom of the ninth and scored the winning run to end the game.[8] After batting 2-for-14 in sporadic playing time, the Tigers optioned Collins to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League on April 18.[7] On September 1, 2014, Collins was called up by the Tigers. Following being called up, Collins entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning of a game against the Cleveland Indians, where he hit his first career home run.[9]

Collins saw more extensive major league playing time in 2015 after the Tigers traded away outfielder Yoenis Céspedes in late July. In 60 games, Collins hit .266 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.

On April 25, 2016, during a home game against the Oakland Athletics, Collins gave the Detroit crowd the finger after he lost a flyball in the lights and the home crowd began booing him. This play allowed Marcus Semien to advance to third base and put Jordan Zimmermann's scoreless streak on the line.[10] Collins was not suspended, but was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens on April 27.[11][12] Collins returned to Detroit on July 15 after Justin Upton was placed on the bereavement list.[13] He remained with the Tigers following the return of Upton, as the team chose to option Steven Moya to AAA instead.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Collins Keeps Slugging In The TCL". Baseball America. June 23, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Howard College to honor former baseball standout". Big Spring Herald. February 16, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Seven HC baseball players sign national letters of intent". Big Spring Herald. November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ Paul, Tony (March 9, 2014). "Left-handed hitting Tyler Collins makes Tigers take notice". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ Schmehl, James (August 28, 2013). "Devon Travis, Tyler Collins among seven Detroit Tigers minor leaguers named to Arizona Fall League". mlive.com. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ Seidel, Jeff (March 29, 2014). "Last set of moves brings roster to 25". mlb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Beck, Jason; Slovin, Matt (April 18, 2014). "Tigers promote righty Miller to bolster bullpen". mlb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers". mlb.com.
  9. ↑ Dulik, Brian (September 1, 2014). "Miggy hits two of Tigers' five homers in rout of Tribe". MLB.com. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ Strang, Katie (April 26, 2016). "Tigers' Tyler Collins extends finger to booing fans after misplayed ball". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Tyler Collins won't be suspended for flipping off booing Tigers fans". ESPN.com. April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ Beck, Jason (April 27, 2016). "K-Rod back with Tigers; Collins optioned". MLB.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  13. ↑ Alter, Marlowe (July 15, 2016). "Tigers place Justin Upton on bereavement list, recall Tyler Collins". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Sipple, George (July 17, 2016). "Why the Tigers demoted Steven Moya, kept Tyler Collins". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
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