The Tuiasosopo Who Plays Baseball

Matt Tuiasosopa took the long road to the majors. A Seattle native, and son of a popular former Seahawks lineman, Matt played both football and baseball in high school, choosing baseball after being drafted by the Mariners. He spent eight uneventful years in their farm system, including three at Triple-A Tacoma. In 2012, he moved on to the Mets' Buffalo club, again without making waves. Landing an invitation to Tigers camp, he became their unexpected Grapefruit League star. And he's kept hitting after making the club. Providing a spark off the bench -- appearing in 20 games, batting .324 including a pinch-homer this week against the Nationals. (These pictures are from a spring game where he homered against the Mets ).
One thing has changed since he got to Detroit: Matt got a lower number. Now, he wears 18. Sharing May 10th with former Met and Cub Jim Hickman and former Giant Robby Thompson, happy birthday to Matt Tuiasosopo.

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