The Tigers held an open tryout in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, March 5, 2018. Hear from former major league catcher and current free agent Steve Clevenger. George Sipple, Detroit Free Press
LAKELAND, Fla. — They were just kids trying to get noticed by a scout.
Eduardo Jimenez was on the mound. He was a 16-year-old from Cumana, Venezuela, who had learned to pitch from his grandfather. And now, here he was, firing the ball at 94 miles per hour.
Jimenez, no relation to Joe, was trying to use that magical arm to get to a better place.