TOLEDO, Ohio -- Detroit Tigers starting catcher James McCann, who is made his second injury rehabilitation assignment game with Triple-A Toledo, went 1-for-2 with a walk for the Mud Hens on Wednesday against Triple-A Gwinnett.
McCann batted in the second slot of the lineup and played catcher for the first time in his rehab assignment. The Mud Hens, however, lost the game, 5-1. The 25-year-old is recovering from a right ankle sprain.
McCann was pulled from a game early in the season, April 12, against the Pittsburgh Pirates as he ran into first baseman John Jaso while trying to record an infield single in the bottom of the fifth inning. After the game, he was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain, the X-rays came back negative and it was reported as a Grade 2 right ankle sprain.
After resuming baseball activities, running the bases, catching a bullpen session and more, McCann was finally cleared to make a rehab assignment appearance with the Mud Hens.
McCann was the designated hitter for his injury rehab assignment debut on Tuesday. The catcher went 0-for-3 with two walks. His first at-bat was a walk, but then he went hitless in his next two at-bats before drawing his second walk of the game. McCann grounded out in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game.
The catcher, who was taken in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, picked up two hits in 15 at-bats to start the 2016 season, but then hit the disabled list. Across the 2015 season, McCann slashed .264/.297/.387 with seven home runs and 41 RBI in 114 games.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Bobby Wilson are still controlling the major league catching duties for Detroit, but McCann should be up to the big leagues in about two or three days as long as he stays healthy through his final two rehab games.
The Mud Hens will be back at it on Thursday at 10:35 AM ET against the Braves. Toledo will send Michael Fulmer to the mound and he will be opposed by Lucas Sims.