Toledo Mud Hens pitching coach Jeff Pico said he was going to contact the Detroit Tigers coaching staff after Thursday’s game.
“Daniel Stumpf is pitching in this game, and any time a rehab pitcher throws for us I report back to them,” Pico said. “So maybe I’ll say, ‘We’ll see you soon.’”
That is because Pico will be taking over as the Tigers’ bullpen coach after Detroit fired pitching coach Chris Bosio on Wednesday after allegations arose he directed an insensitive comment toward a team employee.
Bullpen coach Rick Anderson replaced Bosio as pitching coach, and Pico will join the Tigers as Anderson’s replacement next week. Former Mud Hens pitching coach A.J. Sager, a University of Toledo graduate who is Detroit’s minor-league pitching coordinator, will serve as the Tigers’ bullpen coach until Pico joins the team.
“Obviously, spending time in spring training with the coaching staff and pitchers during spring training was enjoyable,” Pico said about joining Detroit’s staff. “Whatever the Tigers want me to do, that’s what I’ll do.”
Neither the Tigers nor the Mud Hens have named Pico’s replacement as Toledo’s pitching coach, although Mike Alvarez — who serves as the pitching coach for Detroit’s Gulf Coast League team — is expected to replace Pico.
While Pico will be joining a new team, he will recognize a fair number of the faces in the Detroit bullpen, since many of them have spent time in Toledo this season. Louis Coleman, Blaine Hardy, Artie Lewicki, and Warwick Saupold are part of the Tigers’ 13-man pitching staff, as are several players who have made rehab appearances in Toledo including Francisco Liriano, Alex Wilson, and Jordan Zimmermann.
What’s more, Tigers catcher Grayson Greiner spent time with the Mud Hens, as did three pitchers on Detroit’s disabled list in Johnny Barbato, Ryan Carpenter, and Drew VerHagen.
“I know these pitchers from either spring training or going through Toledo,” Pico said. “It’s definitely more of a comfort zone.
“And I got to know Rick Anderson in spring training, and we get along great. So I look forward to working with him.”
Pico said he has enjoyed his time in Toledo and with the Mud Hens.
“We have a good club and a good coaching staff, and that has made it fun,” he said. “I’ll miss that for sure, and I’ll miss working the players here. …
“The facilities are great here, it’s a good travel league, and there are good players and coaches in this league.”
Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481, or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.
First Published June 28, 2018, 10:34 p.m.
