The Detroit Tigers have activated catcher James McCann from the 15-day disabled list, the team announced.
McCann will be in action on Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians.
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 Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
McCann went 2-for-11 with two RBI during a minor league rehab assignment. McCann struggled, but do not count him out.
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.
McCann was tossed into the starting role as catcher when Alex Avila was injured for awhile during the 2015 season. McCann showed that he was reliable behind the plate, along with his outstanding leadership when the pitchers were struggling. It also helps that the youngster collected multiple extra-base hits. A new statistic, FRM RUNS, is the total runs the catcher added by getting the umpire to call strikes where the average catcher did not. McCann logged a -16.6 FRM, which is not very good. As a matter of fact, the only catchers that were worse across 2015 were Welington Castillo, Carlos Ruiz and Nick Hundley. If McCann can learn to frame pitches better as his career goes on, he has the ability to be a great defensive catcher.
On Tuesday, the Tigers will be battling with the Indians. The game will be on the road for the Tigers at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. McCann should jump right back behind the plate and handle a bulk of the work.