After Bligh Madris was traded to the Astros over the previous offseason, the Detroit Tigers never forgot about him.

The holidays for Brigg Madris’s most recent offseason didn’t go as expected. Before being traded to the Houston Astros by the Detroit Tigers, he was designated for assignment on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and spent both days in limbo.

Despite spending five weeks on the 40-man roster, Madris never appeared in a game while with the Tigers. On December 21, 2022, he was designated for assignment, and on January 3, 2023, he was transferred to the Astros in exchange for monetary considerations.

The offseason of last year was tense.

According to Madris, I had no idea when I was placed on waivers and, since MLB was closed for the holidays, I had no idea if I remained on waivers after the first of the year. It was kind of a bummer to have that hanging over my head during the holidays.

As it happens, Madris was never forgotten by the Tigers.

At the start of the offseason this year, Madris was courted by the Tigers, who signed him to a minor-league contract and extended an invitation to big-league spring training to non-rosters. For the Tigers in 2024, he projects himself as a left-handed hitter in the corner outfield and first base depth.

Madris remarked, It felt fantastic to know that they wanted me back. As someone who has never experienced (minor-league) free agency, I thought it was a terrific deal. It made me concentrate a little bit more on the tasks I had to complete this offseason.

Madris, who turns 28 in late February, played in 100 games last season for Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros system, hitting.235 with 15 home runs, 67 walks, and 115 strikeouts.

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At the Triple-A level last season, Madris played defense at the following positions: left field (122⅔ innings), right field (287 innings), and first base (250 innings). In 2022, he began to play first base.

Madris was promoted by the Astros for 12 Major League Baseball games, totaling 51 games played in parts of two seasons. With seven strikeouts, four walks, and a.154 batting average.

Madris increased his 2022 Triple-A walk rate to 9.8%, but in 2023 it was 14.7%. A career-high 15 home runs were also hammered by him in 100 games; but, in 2023, his batting average fell from.297 in 2022 to.235.

During his tenure in Triple-A Sugar Land, he listened to advise from Michael Brantley, a five-time All-Star and 15-year MLB veteran who recently announced his retirement from the game. Brantley was on rehab assignments at the time.

According to Madris, he divided striking into three categories: separation, throwing your lower body, and letting go of your hands. Sequencing was his main focus. To hit, you needed to arrange your body optimally. For me, that was significant.

Madris intends to continue drawing walks while displaying a rise in power in the 2024 campaign.I hope to put on a little more weight,” Madris remarked. “In terms of hitting, I’m improving that sequence and learning how to get to the ball faster and shorter.”

Tigers activate reliever Devin Sweet off waivers; Tyler Nevin is assigned to the team.

When Madris was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on November 18, 2022, the Tigers and him started a connection. Scott Harris, the president of baseball operations, claimed him as the fifth of ten players off waivers during the previous offseason.

Madris was designated for assignment after just five weeks on the 40-man roster, but his performance in the previous offseason paved the way for a deal this summer.

In just five short weeks, I met a lot of amazing people with the Tigers,” Madris remarked. “Everyone I spoke with showed me respect at all times. I am well aware that this is a business matter and not a personal one. When they visited and spoke with me during the off-season, I was thrilled.

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