Tigers' Drew VerHagen hopes to be back in majors soon

Drew VerHagen had a taste of the big leagues.

But that taste was bittersweet.

He made one start for the Detroit Tigers this past season, but it was his last start of the year after a stress fracture in his back sidelined him for the final two months.

"I think it was very beneficial," VerHagen said last week. "It gave me a taste of the goal that I've had since I was a young kid.

"So that little taste fueled me through the off-season and makes me want to get back there that much more."

This off-season, the righty said, is all about resting that back to put him in a position to stay healthy the entire year.

"There's not much you can do about it other than rest it," Ver-Hagen said. "But it feels really good right now."

He said he feels 100% and is in the middle of a normal off-season throwing program.

VerHagen is coming off a solid 2014 season at Triple-A Toledo. He posted a 3.67 ERA in 19 starts with the Mud Hens. He didn't post big strikeout numbers — never has — but controls the ball and impressed enough last spring and summer to earn a July 19 start with the Tigers.

In the opener of a doubleheader with the Indians at Comerica Park, he pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits — before the back issue finally shelved him for the season.

"I felt it a little bit on and off over the past year or two but it became a more serious issue this year," he said.

He spent the rest of the season on the 60-day disabled list, was activated in late October and is on the Tigers' 40-man roster.

VerHagen is penciled into the Mud Hens' rotation this year, but has extensive experience relieving in college at Vanderbilt.

"I feel comfortable starting and relieving," he said.

He throws four pitches — a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, curveball and change-up — and will be in the mix again this spring.

"We'll see," he said. "There's a lot of time between now and Opening Day, so we'll see how the spring goes."

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.