Former Tigers Conclude 2008 Season in the Pro Ranks
10/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 3, 2008
Now that Major League Baseball has entered the postseason, it is time to look back at the 2008 seasons for the former Tigers now in the ranks of professional baseball. The year was highlighted by Ian Kinsler's appearance in the MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium and the promotions to the majors for former MU pitchers Max Scherzer and Doug Mathis.
Despite having season-ending surgery for a sports hernia which forced him to miss the final month and half of the year, Kinsler hit .319 for the Texas Rangers, which was fourth best in the American League. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 71. Kinsler became the first former Tiger to be named an All-Star since Tim Laudner in 1988.
Scherzer made an impact soon after being called up to the majors in April. In his first appearance on the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Scherzer struck out seven in 4.1 perfect innings on the mound, setting a club record for the most strikeouts in a debut. After a return to Triple-A for the most of the summer, Scherzer was back with the Diamondbacks in late August to close the season. He struck out a career-best 11 batters against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 7. Scherzer's final start of the season came on Sept. 24 against the Cardinals in his hometown of St. Louis.
Mathis pitched in eight games for the Texas Rangers in 2008, including four starts. However, a shoulder injury hampered him in his first season in the big leagues. Mathis finished the year with a 2-1 record and a 6.85 ERA. His first appearance came on May 13, when he pitched a scoreless 10th inning and earned the win after Texas won the game in bottom of the inning. Mathis started his first game as a Ranger on May 20 in Minnesota.
Several other former Tigers found success in the minor leagues. Check out stats for all of the Tigers in professional baseball here.
