COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — For two games, Omar Infante will be a West Michigan Whitecap again.
Infante will join the Whitecaps on Wednesday and Thursday for a rehabiliation assignment as the Tigers second baseman continues to recover from sprained left ankle suffered July 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Infante, 31, played 12 games with the Whitecaps in the first part of his second professional season at the age of 18.
The Whitecaps host the Fort Wayne TinCaps for a three-game set at Fifth Third Ballpark starting Wednesday.
Prior to the injury, Infante was batting .309 in 76 games and had committed just four errors as Detroit’s everyday second baseman. During his 1,167-game Major League career for the Tigers, Braves and Marlins, Infante has a career batting average of .277 with 70 home runs, 397 RBI and 488 runs scored. His Minor League resume includes a brief stop with the Whitecaps as an 18-year-old shortstop in 2000, when he hit .229 in 12 games at the end of the season.
Infante won’t be the only Detroit Tigers playing for the Whitecaps this week. Left-handed reliever Darin Downs is slated to throw one inning for the Whitecaps in Thursday’s game. He has been on the disabled list since July 7 with rotator cuff tendonitis in his left shoulder. Prior to the injury, the southpaw was 0-2 with a 5.18 ERA over 26 relief appearances. He struck out 37 batters with just 10 walks over 33 innings.
For both Wednesday and Thursday’s games, the Whitecaps will open the gates to Fifth Third Ballpark at 4:00 p.m. to allow for fans to come and watch the Whitecaps take batting practice.
