Detroit Tigers hire Dylan Axelrod to newly created role in player development department
The Detroit Tigers created and filled a new position in the player development department.
Dylan Axelrod, who pitched in five MLB seasons from 2011-15, has been hired by the Tigers as the pitching performance and integration coordinator, according to his LinkedIn profile. He will facilitate the collaboration between the strength and conditioning coaches, the pitching coaches and the pitchers in the Tigers' organization.
Axelrod worked as the pitching performance coordinator for the Los Angeles Angels over the past four seasons. He spent the first two seasons coaching alongside Tigers vice president of player development Ryan Garko.
Axelrod joined the Angels' player development department ahead of the 2020 season and received high marks from players. Meanwhile, Garko was hired by the Angels around the same time as a coaching assistant.
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The Tigers hired Garko away from the Angels in September 2021 and gave him the keys to overhauling their player development department.
Now, Axelrod and Garko are working together again.
The Tigers targeted Axelrod as the pitching performance and integration coordinator because of his strength and conditioning background during his time working at P3 Peak Performance Project — a facility in Santa Barbra, California, that's home to many professional baseball players — from 2017-19 after his playing career ended.
As a coach, Axelrod blends pitching expertise with strength and conditioning expertise. His primarily focus with the Tigers is integrating those departments, but when he's not integrating, he is expected to help director of pitching Gabe Ribas with day-to-day pitching duties.
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The Angels fired Axelrod, as well as pitching coordinator Buddy Carlyle, after the 2023 season.
The decision to fire them, as detailed by The Athletic's Sam Blum, might have been influenced by player development complaints — specifically about the use of technology — from former Angels pitcher Troy Percival.
The Tampa Bay Rays hired Carlyle with the same title almost immediately after he was fired by the Angels.
The Tigers have improved their pitching department over the past four years by hiring Ribas and pitching coordinator Stephanos Stroop in the minor leagues to prepare players for pitching coach Chris Fetter and assistant pitching coach Robin Lund in the major leagues.
Before his coaching career, Axelrod pitched in 59 games across 228⅔ innings in his MLB career with the Chicago White Sox (2011-13) and Cincinnati Reds (2014-15). He had the best year of his career in 2013, posting a 5.68 ERA with 43 walks and 73 strikeouts over 128⅓ innings in 30 games (20 starts).
He started 34 of his 59 MLB games.
Axelrod also pitched in 233 games, making 126 starts, during nine seasons in the minor leagues. He competed for the San Diego Padres, White Sox, Reds and Miami Marlins throughout his professional career.
The Tigers also hired Devin Hayes as a pitching performance coordinator in July 2023. He spent the previous four years at Tread Athletics.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers hire Dylan Axelrod to new player development role
