Tony Paul

The Detroit News

Detroit – In the end, there was no room for Dean Green.

He saw it, and so he asked for his release from the Tigers, who granted it to him Wednesday.

Green's contract was then sold to the Yakult Swallows of the Japan Central League, where he will play in 2017.

Green, 27, was an 11th-round pick by the Tigers in the 2011 draft out of Barry University in Florida, and the big, left-handed hitter had significant success at the plate in six minor-league seasons.

The problem was, he played first base and designated hitter, and nowhere else – and there were serious road blocks at the major-league level, in guys named Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.

Green posted a long goodbye/thank-you letter on Twitter on Wednesday, saying, in part:

"Thank you to all the fans for making my time with the Tigers worthwhile! The fans bring an energy to the stadium that is indescribable as a player, and it makes it enjoyable for us to perform. Thank you for all your encouragement and support throughout the years, and I hope that I have made a lasting impression on all of you, as well. I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my baseball career."

In six minor-league seasons, Green batted .306/.371/.479 with 76 home runs and 401 RBIs. He never had an OPS for a season lower than .800.

This past season, he had 23 homers and 108 RBIs and a slash line of .296/.356/.500 splitting time with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

Green never did get a callup with the Tigers.

He would've been eligible for selection in December's Rule 5 draft and would've been a candidate to be selected, given his power potential. Instead, he'll head to Japan for a signifcant but as-yet unknown raise.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

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