3 Detroit Tigers who won’t be on the roster by May 1

Detroit Tigers who won’t be on the roster: Jose Cisnero

Cisnero’s ascent to the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen represents a heartening tale. Upon arriving in Detroit in 2019, he had not pitched at any professional baseball level since 2015. As the longest-serving arm in the Tigers’ bullpen, he now has the opportunity to become the team’s closer in 2023. However, Cisnero’s statistics do not inspire confidence.

His K% stands at a mere 12.5%, and his hard-hit rate is a daunting 40%. His go to put-away pitch, the slider, has failed to elicit swings and misses. Furthermore, his fastball has consistently occupied the top of the strike zone, making it easy for right-handed hitters to make solid contact.

In Triple-A Toledo, the Tigers have an alternative in right-hander Brendan White, who boasts a mix of fastball and slider pitches.

Cisnero signed a one-year deal worth $2,287,500 in January, leaving Detroit to decide whether to eat the contract if he continues to struggle while protecting leads. Should this scenario unfold, the Tigers may be quicker to pull the trigger on a move than in the past.