Ryan Raburn Hits Another Home Run During Rehab Assignment

Second-half Ryan Raburn may finally be showing up.

The Tigers' utility man has been sidelined with a right thumb sprain since Aug. 1 and recently began a rehab assignment in Toledo.

Raburn's numbers in two games with Toledo? 4-for-9 with two home runs, a double, two walks and six RBIs. On Thursday night, Raburn went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer.

He has been much-maligned this season in Detroit. Raburn got off to his typically cold start, but hasn't turned it around yet this season, hitting .172 with a .225 OBP before going on the DL. Last season, he hit .323 in August and .383 in September/October, continuing his reputation of being a second-half player.

With the Tigers battling out for a playoff spot, the hope is Raburn can finally find things and become the other solid right-handed bat they need down the stretch.

For more Detroit Tigers news and analysis, head over to Bless You Boys, and be sure to check out SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub.

Ryan Raburn Injury: Rehab Assignment Off To Good Start

Ryan Raburn made his first rehab start on Wednesday night and, luckily for the Detroit Tigers' faithful, it was a good one. It might not have been good enough to make the Tigers call up Raburn for the weekend, of course, but very few have reason to complain about the utilityman's output on Wednesday.

Raburn got the start for Triple-A Toledo in his first appearance and, as MLive notes, it went about as well as one could hope.

Raburn went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs on Wednesday night to help Triple-A Toledo to an 8-3 victory over Columbus.

It was the first game of a rehabilitation assignment for Raburn, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a sprained right thumb.

The article quoted above makes it sound like Raburn will likely be recalled when rosters expand at the beginning of next month as long as he's able to keep his bat working as well as it did Wednesday night.

For more Detroit Tigers news and analysis, head over to Bless You Boys, and be sure to check out SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub.

Ryan Raburn Injury: Rehab Assignment To Begin Wednesday

Detroit Tigers utilityman Ryan Raburn will join Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday for a rehab assignment, according to a tweet from the team's media relations. Raburn has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a thumb sprain.

Raburn has struggled in 63 games with the Tigers in 2012, hitting just .162 with a putrid .483 OPS, this after posting an .OPS over .800 in three of the past five seasons. Injuries are nothing new for Raburn, though, as he's missed at least 41 games in each season since 2007.

Raburn hasn't played since July 31 against the Boston Red Sox.

Detroit (64-57) is just 2 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and 1.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second and final Wild Card spot.

For more Detroit Tigers news and analysis, head over to Bless You Boys, and be sure to check out SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub.

Tigers Vs. Indians: Ryan Raburn Hits Disabled List With Thumb Sprain

To say Tigers utility man Ryan Raburn has struggled this season would be putting it nicely. He's played in just 63 games this season and is hitting just .172 in 198 at-bats with a miniscule .483 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

He has not played since July 31 against Boston, and we now have a reason why:

Tigers have placed Raburn on DL retro to 8/1 with right thumb sprain. Worth has been recalled from Toledo. #tigers

— Brian Britten (@BBritten_Tigers) August 5, 2012

Raburn has struggled with injuries throughout his Major League career, as he's missed at least 41 games in each of his five seasons since 2007.

He played in 113 games in both 2009 and 2010 and hit 31 home runs and drove in 107 runs combined during those two seasons, with an OPS above .800 both years.

Raburn played 121 games in 2011 but posted just a .256/.297/.432 slash line with a career-high 114 strikeouts.

Danny Worth, who the Tigers recalled from Triple-A Toledo to replace Raburn, hit .277 with five home runs and six stolen bases (.848 OPS) in 36 games with the Mud Hens this season.

For more Detroit Tigers news and analysis, head over to Bless You Boys, and be sure to check out SB Nation's dedicated MLB hub.