Mike Maroth is back with the Detroit Tigers organization, returning to begin his post-pitching career.
↵The team announced on Monday that their former starting pitcher will be the pitching coach for their Class A club in Lakeland next season.
↵Maroth announced his retirement in January after six major league seasons, almost all of which were spent with the Tigers. Unfortunately, he's probably best known for being the last pitcher to lose 20 games in a season, losing 21 for Detroit in 2003.
↵The lefthander was on his way to his best season in 2006, compiling a 5-2 record and 4.19 ERA. But an elbow injury limited him to only 13 games (nine starts), and he was sidelined while the Tigers made a run to the World Series.
↵Maroth finished his Tigers career with a 50-62 record and 4.81 ERA in 161 games. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007, with whom he pitched in 14 games. The Cards released him following that season. Maroth attempted to catch on with the Royals, Blue Jays and Twins, but his elbow never came all the way back. Shoulder and knee injuries also developed as he tried to get healthy.
↵This will be Maroth's first coaching job in baseball. He replaces Joe Coleman in Lakeland, who had held that position for the past four seasons.