DETROIT -- The Tigers placed Daniel Norris on the 10-day injured list Thursday, and the left-hander confirmed to reporters he is waiting to clear protocol for COVID-19.
Detroit did not specify an injury with the transaction for Norris, who has not been seen at Tigers Summer Camp since it began last week. On Tuesday, general manager Al Avila issued a statement confirming that team members have tested positive for the coronavirus.
¡°We¡¯ve had individuals that tested positive for COVID-19, and who were isolated, retested and passed the protocols to permit them to resume baseball activities,¡± the statement read in part. ¡°Those individuals that are currently positive are being closely monitored by our medical staff, and we hope to have them back on the field soon. Pursuant to federal law and the MLB/PA Basic Agreement, our club will refrain from identifying players who are unable to participate in workouts due to non-work-related injuries.¡±
Norris told MLB.com Wednesday morning that he¡¯s feeling great and staying ready as he awaits negative test results for clearance to join the team in workouts.
¡°Just champing at the bit to get back,¡± Norris said in a text message.
Manager Ron Gardenhire referenced Norris¡¯ situation and the roster move without specifying the injury.
¡°We were going into Spring Training trying to figure out how we were going to use him. He did so well in that starter role [last year], going three, four, five innings,¡± Gardenhire said. ¡°I think we got a lot out of him, and I think it helped him through the year. We were going to see where we were at in Spring Training and go from there, but obviously this is a setback. Now it¡¯s for him to get back on the field, and we¡¯ll see where he¡¯s at and how long it¡¯s going to take.¡±
Gardenhire didn¡¯t rule out Norris for the start of the season July 24, but said he hasn¡¯t seen Norris to know where he stands in his build-up. The Tigers have starting pitching depth with the return of Michael Fulmer.
¡°I know this: I don¡¯t think too many people are going to outwork [Norris], or have until this event came on in his life,¡± Gardenhire said. ¡°All we can do is wait and see how long it takes for him to get back on the field, and then we¡¯ll go from there. I don¡¯t have any time frame right now. First he has to get well, and he has to be approved to get back on the field, and you go from there.¡±
Tigers announce 2021 schedule
The Tigers have yet to begin their 2020 campaign, but they already know where they¡¯re scheduled to open the 2021 season. They¡¯re slated to host Cleveland on April 1, as Major League Baseball released the '21 schedule on Thursday.
The Tigers and Indians were supposed to open this season against each other in Cleveland on March 26 before the coronavirus pandemic suspended Spring Training and led to an abbreviated 60-game schedule.
Next year¡¯s schedule puts the Tigers on a pair of three-city road trips in the first six weeks after Detroit hosts the Tribe and the Twins to open the season. The Tigers head to Cleveland, Houston and Oakland for a 10-game trip April 9-20. After a seven-game late-April homestand against the Pirates and Royals, Detroit hits the road again for three games each against the White Sox, Yankees and Red Sox.
Like this season, the Tigers are slated to face the National League Central in Interleague Play that includes a three-game series against the Cubs at Comerica Park from May 14-16 and a two-game visit from the Cardinals on June 22-23. They¡¯ll travel to Milwaukee for two games at the end of May and Cincinnati and Pittsburgh for three games each in early September.
The Tigers will play seven consecutive games against the Twins in July: four in Minnesota and three in Detroit, with the All-Star break between.
Tigers add two more non-drafted free agents
The Tigers have agreed to terms with a pair of undrafted free agents, both high-strikeout, right-handed relievers from college programs in Florida, bringing Detroit's NDFA total to six this summer.
Jacksonville University reliever Chris Mauloni struck out 12 batters over 5 2/3 innings this past spring in his brief junior season, and racked up 83 strikeouts over 53 innings in his three-year college career. He was a 35th-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2019 MLB Draft after he posted a 7.07 ERA in his sophomore season.
Likewise, Nick Davila struck out 19 batters over 12 innings in his brief season out of the bullpen for the University of South Florida following two years at Hillsborough Community College. A southern Florida native, Davila went to Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, the same high school attended by former Tiger J.D. Martinez.
Reyes rejoins team
While Norris and a handful of other Tigers remain away from the team, Victor Reyes joined Summer Camp on Wednesday after missing the first week. He was away from the team for the birth of his first child, according to Gardenhire.