Detroit Tigers re-sign Brenan Hanifee to minor-league contract with spring training invite

Right-hander Brenan Hanifee, who spent most of last season in Triple-A Toledo before his MLB debut in September, has re-signed with the Detroit Tigers.

Hanifee, 25, signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement. His contract includes an invitation to MLB spring training.

He posted a 5.40 ERA — three runs in five innings — across three relief appearances for the Tigers to finish the 2023 season, with three strikeouts and zero walks while facing 23 batters.

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Before joining the Tigers, Hanifee took the mound in 25 games — 13 starts — for Triple-A Toledo in 2023. He logged a 4.38 ERA with 30 walks (7.5% walk rate) and 82 strikeouts (20.6% strikeout rate) over 90⅓ innings with the Mud Hens.

He throws four pitches — sinker, cutter, slider and changeup — and relies on ground balls for outs.

"The strike-throwing is going to be super key for him," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sept. 21, hours before Hanifee made his MLB debut against the Oakland Athletics. "This is the only level he hasn't been tested. The stuff is good enough. Now, he needs opportunity."

But the Tigers removed Hanifee, along with injured right-handed reliever Freddy Pacheco, from the 40-man roster in mid-November to protect two prospects from the Rule 5 draft. Both Hanifee and Pacheco were designated for assignment Nov. 14 and non-tendered Nov. 17, becoming minor-league free agents.

Hanifee has returned on a minor-league contract, and Pacheco is expected to do the same as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery.

Pacheco, 25, underwent right elbow surgery in early June to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament. He is expected to miss most of the 2024 season.

Hanifee originally signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers in December 2022 after being released by the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles selected Hanifee in the fourth round — No. 121 overall — in the 2016 draft out of Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, Virginia.

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 re-sign Brenan Hanifee to minor-league contract