Matt Tuiasosopo Makes Detroit Tigers Roster in Surprising Way

There are a lot of surprises this time of the spring in Major League Baseball, most of which have to do with roster spots on various teams. The Detroit Tigers made a surprise decision in naming Matt Tuiasosopo to the 25-man roster. To be clear, it wasn’t surprising that the hot hitting Tuiasosopo made the roster, it was surprising how he did it.

Everything apparently started with a simple self-marketing email that Tuiasosopo sent to the Tigers team President. Interest from the team turned into an invite to spring training. Tuiasosopo then turned that into a great spring. His numbers are good as they are but when you consider his 0 for 10 start was at the same time his newborn son was having difficulties in the hospital, the numbers from the end of that on are great, not good.

The surprising part is that Tuiasosopo is by trade a third baseman. That is what he has done most of all in his baseball career. The Tigers have a guy by the name of Miguel Cabrera over at third, maybe you’ve heard of him, so they don’t really need a guy there. So, for a few weeks now Tuiasosopo has been playing some in the outfield. It isn’t exactly somewhere that he has played a lot in his career but when he has played it, he has been good defensively.

The Tigers now have the big bat of Tuiasosopo available as a fourth outfielder starting opening day. For a guy that didn’t have a team a short while ago and is called a “six year free agent”, making the roster of the Tigers is one heck of a move. Tuiasosopo gives credit to God and I think it is hard to argue with that, considering the path he has taken. Here is wishing the best of luck to Tuiasosopo.

David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google₊.