When it comes to relief pitching, predicting year-to-year performance can feel like trying to hit a knuckleball in a hurricane. That's why the Detroit Tigers' decision to bring in another seasoned veteran this late in February makes perfect sense.
Enter Colin Poche, a left-hander with five years of big-league experience under his belt. Just last year, he was poised to bolster the Washington Nationals' bullpen. However, after a rocky start, he found himself bouncing around, briefly landing with the New York Mets before being released by August.
But the Tigers see potential where others might not. On Wednesday, Poche's training hub, Driveline Baseball, announced that the 32-year-old had inked a minor-league deal with Detroit. According to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, Poche won't be heading to the major league camp in Florida just yet.
While there's no guarantee Poche will make it back to the majors, his history suggests he could shine as a lefty specialist. His breakout season came in 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he dazzled with a 2.26 ERA over 60 2/3 innings, notching an impressive 12 wins as a reliever.
Poche also posted two other seasons with sub-four ERAs in Tampa Bay's bullpen. He initially broke into the majors with the Rays in 2019 but missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
With Detroit's bullpen lacking in left-handed depth, especially those with proven success, Poche has a prime opportunity ahead. If he starts strong at Triple-A, he could quickly find himself back in the big leagues, ready to make an impact.