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NEW YORK — President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees game on Thursday, Sept.11, the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York – and security has been extremely tight at Yankee Stadium.
The Tigers were actually screened by Secret Service agents at their hotel before getting on a bus to head to the stadium. Waves of Secret Service agents and other federal agents patrolled the front of the stadium and a helicopter buzzed overhead as the media entered the park.
Players and coaches wore “NYPD” and FDNY” hats during pregame warmups paying tribute to the city’s police and fire departments and first responders, even though some of these Tigers are barely old enough to have memories of the terrorist attack that brought down the World Trade Center in New York.
“They probably studied it in history class, which is amazing to think of,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “It means a lot to be here and be in the city on a day that is unfathomable. I remember where I was. I remember the communication across the league. I was an active player at the time.”
The Tigers will wear patches on their hats to commemorate the anniversary.
“I’ve been in and around the city, and I know how much it means to the people here,” Hinch said. “I can’t imagine going through what the people in this city had to go through. The older I get, with my kids growing up and realizing more and more what was taken away from so many people, it is insane. So I it means a lot to wear the first responder hats during BP. It means a lot to wear the patch on our hats tonight to recognize that, a really, really difficult day in our history. It’s a unique experience.”
Especially being in New York.
Zach McKinstry injury update
Zach McKinstry was held out of the first two games of this series with back pain, but the utility player was available for Thursaday’s series finale.
“He was available yesterday,” Hinch said. “He’s going through his normal work, and I am taking it easy on him a little bit to try to give him as much time as we could. Given the way the games went, we were fortunate to be able to keep him out.”
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Paul Sewald getting closer to return from IL
Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald continued his rehab stint on Wednesday, Sept. 10, throwing an inning for Triple-A Toledo. Sewald, who joined the Tigers organization on July 31 but has yet to pitch in the majors for them, allowed no hits, walks or runs in his third rehab appearance (and his first with the Mud Hens).
The Tigers acquired Sewald from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline. The 35-year-old has been on the injured list for much of the season with a right shoulder strain, with just four MLB appearances – the last coming on July 11. He was transferred to the 60-day IL upon joining the Tigers and is eligible to return from it now.
“I talked to Paul this morning to see how he was bouncing back, because he’s been through this before,” Hinch said. “I think when he got hurt in Cleveland, he had four outings before he came back to the big leagues, and then he pitched in four of seven games right away. We’ trying to monitor how he feels, where he’s at physically and then how he’s bouncing back.”
Sewald is expected to pitch for Toledo again this weekend as the Mud Hens host the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
“He’s thrilled with how he’s bouncing back,” Hinch said. “We’re very happy with his execution. His stuff is starting to tick up his last two outings, which is key.”
Kyle Finnegan progresses
Right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan, who has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 1, expects to throw a bullpen this weekend with the team in Miami.
“The throwing has been going well,” he said. “Everything’s feeling good, so just doing all the required steps and everything’s been really good. So staying on schedule, if not ahead of schedule.”
Finnegan, who is dealing with a right adductor strain, isn’t eligible to return from the IL until Sept. 16. He joined the Tigers in a trade deadline deal with the Washington Nationals and has yet to allow a run in 14⅓ innings with the Tigers, covering 12 appearances.
“It feels strong,” Finnegan said. “It’s just a matter of checking all the boxes of progression.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.