Former first-round pick Alex Faedo among seven players cut by Tigers

Lakeland, Fla. — Right-hander Alex Faedo, who was fighting for a spot as a long reliever in the Tigers’ bullpen, was among seven players optioned or reassigned Monday morning.

Faedo and right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta were optioned to Triple-A Toledo.

Right-handed relievers Kervin Castro and Miguel Diaz, left-hander Miguel Del Pozo and utility players Brendon Davis and Jermaine Palacios also were reassigned to minor league.

Faedo, 27, was coming off hip surgery and was on a slower build-up this spring. The former first-round pick (2018) pitched in four games, allowing seven runs in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts.

"He will be stretched out to start at (Triple-A) Toledo," manager AJ Hinch said. "We are going to map out his week, get him up to between four and five innings and then he will be ready to start."

The five players assigned to minors camp were in camp as non-roster invitees and all five performed well.

Diaz didn’t allow a run in 6.1 innings, with 12 strikeouts and just three walks. Del Pozo pitched five scoreless innings, with four strikeouts and four walks.

"I told them it was OK to be frustrated," Hinch said. "They have every right. They put up a really good spring, both of them. But the reality is, you have to deliver bad news even when guys pitch well."

The decision to option both players had already been made and neither was expected to pitch until later in the week.

"We wanted to be honest and up front with them the minute we decided they weren't going to make the Opening Day roster," Hinch said. "No one likes to stand around for a week and look at them knowing they're not going to be on the Opening Day roster and give them false hope."

Castro, the former San Francisco Giant, only gave up two hits with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings, but he got himself in trouble with six walks.

"Those guys have positioned themselves to be viable candidates at any time," Hinch said. "Opening Day is just one day and things can change. Being off the roster, we can purchase them at any time. But it's tough, especially for Diaz. He probably threw the ball the best of all the guys we've sent down to this point."

Davis, who debuted with the Tigers last season, posted a .754 OPS in 19 spring games, playing mostly outfield. Palacios, who made hits big-league debut with the Twins last season, posted an .819 OPS in 16 spring games playing shortstop, third base and second base.

There are 41 players remaining in camp.

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @cmccosky