Tigers Set To Call Up Avisail Garcia, Al Alburquerque

The Detroit Tigers are getting a head start on their September 1st call-ups by adding Double-A outfielder Avisail Garcia and right-handed reliever Al Alburquerque to their roster as they try to capture their second straight AL Central championship.

The 25-year-old Garcia, who spent the first half of the year in High-A Lakeland and jumped to Double-A Erie around the All-Star break is a highly-touted Tigers prospect who could see at-bats in the outfield or at designated hitter. He posted a .312/.345/.465 line in 55 games in Erie.

Alburquerque, who has spent most of the 2012 season on the 60-Day DL rehabbing from offseason elbow surgery, was expected to be added to the Tigers' roster once he was healthy. On a rehab assignment in Toledo, he posted 2.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 15.58 K/9, and 2.62 FIP in 8 2/3 inning, and could bolster a Tigers' bullpen that could use some help down the stretch.

There will be several more moves announced later Friday night as MLB rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.

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