Ramon Santiago, who spent 10 years with the Detroit Tigers, mainly as a utility infielder, will return to serve as the team's first base coach under new manager Ron Gardenhire.
Writer Danny Knobler posted the news on his Facebook account.
"I'm very excited, really happy," Santiago told Knobler. "I'm going back home."
Santiago, 38, signed with the Tigers out of the Dominican Republic and made his debut in 2002. He was traded to the Mariners for Carlos Guillen, and then re-signed a couple years later after Seattle released him.
Santiago served primarily as a utility man at second base, shortstop and third base.