Tigers Rookie Andy Dirks Impressed Leyland

Tigers Rookie Andy Dirks Impressed Leyland:About 90 minutes before the game on Friday, the Tigers manager Jim Leyland gave a rave review of the rookie outfielder Andy Dirks. In his first at-bat in the day, Dirks lined hit in the left Centerfield. He sped into the second with a double.

Leyland spoke so positively about Dirks, that would be to forget there are at least two reasons he could not make the club Opening Day:

More than three weeks left in spring training.

And Leyland praised the exhibition season are still competitors Dirks to field position part-time – Clete Thomas, Brennan Bosch and Casper Wells. (Tigers, perhaps, room for the carriage of two.)

“They all played well,” said Leyland. “It’s a good situation to have. This is a very good situation to have.”

That is why Leyland said he was “very impressed – very impressed” by Dierks, 25, who has never played in the majors, but who was a minor league player Tigers “of the year last season:

“He looks like a solid player in baseball with me. He’s one of those guys that will grow on you. I like it a lot.

“I would say that he is the player wins. I would say that he is the kind of guy you wanted to be there if you need to put the ball in play. It has many advantages. He made an outstanding impression in camp. He gets a good jump on the ball . His arm is not the gun by any means. It’s OK. It works well. He is not the burner.

“I like it a lot. Looking at his kick right now, I think it would be a great pinch-hitter. He has a stroke, which contributes to putting the ball in play and not get out of whack too. He has a good short, quick swing. ”

INJURY UPDATES: irritation at the elbow Joel Zumaya has been reduced, the head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Friday. Rand said Zumaya will not resume throwing until there is no irritation. The medical term for this “asymptomatic” – ie, showing no signs of irritation.