CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Tigers have optioned Mikie Mahtook to Triple-A Toledo, demoting their everyday left fielder only 11 games into the 2018 season.

The Tigers will call up a pitcher to take his place. They plan to announce that corresponding move on Thursday.

Jordan Zimmermann left Wednesday's game in the first inning after getting struck in the face by a line drive. He plans to pitch again in five days and will not require a trip to the disabled list. But his early departure taxed the team's bullpen, prompting the Tigers to add an extra pitcher.

After struggling at times this spring, Mahtook has started the season 4-for-31 (.129) with 10 strikeouts.

"I'm going to go down there, go work on my swing and be back quickly," Mahtook said. "That's what they want me to do. I'm going to go there, play well and be right back."

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said JaCoby Jones and Victor Reyes would split duties in left field, with Niko Goodrum also getting occasional work.

Gardenhire said that giving the news to Mahtook, a well-respected and popular player, was "the worst part of being a manager."

"It was a very tough night for me," he said. "Tough decision. Not fun at all. I really like Mikie. He's kind of scuffling a little bit. I told him he needs to go down and get his swing together and get his confidence back and he'll be right back up here.

"I know he's spinning a little bit offensively, trying to find his swing. It will come. He did it here last year and he'll do it again this year."

Mahtook also got off to a slow start last April before blossoming into an everyday player later in the summer.

"It's just one of those things. I haven't gotten comfortable yet. It's 30 at-bats. It's still really early," he said. "I'm not far off. I'm going to come out of it. Just got to keep plugging away and grinding through it.

"There's no panic in my mind. Obviously it's not ideal to get sent down, but I know that I'm going down there for a reason. I'm going to go there, play well and be right back here."