Who is Brenan Hanifee? Tigers rookie set to wear unique jersey on MLB debut

Modified Sep 21, 2023 07:29 GMT

The Detroit Tigers are abuzz with anticipation as they prepare to welcome a new face to their roster – Brenan Hanifee.

The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher is making headlines not just for his Major League debut, but for the unique jersey number he’ll be sporting – number 75, a first in Tigers’ history.

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Brenan Hanifee’s journey to the major leagues

Hanifee’s journey to the Tigers’ clubhouse has been marked by perseverance and determination. Having spent the majority of his professional career in the Baltimore Orioles' system, Hanifee made a significant move this year by joining the Tigers on a minor-league contract.

His progress hasn’t been without its challenges; in May 2021, he underwent Tommy John surgery, a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity.

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Before Hanifee’s arrival, the Tigers made room on their roster by optioning right-handed reliever Brendan White to Triple-A Toledo. White, a 24-year-old drafted in the 26th round in 2019, showed promise during his brief stint in the majors, with a 5.09 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.

Brenan Hanifee’s story is one of second chances and a never-give-up attitude. After overcoming obstacles and putting together an impressive season in Triple-A, he’s ready to make history with the Tigers as the first player to wear what he hopes one day will become iconic number 75.

Keep an eye for this talented rookie in low-leverage, multi-inning relief situations as he begins his MLB journey with Detroit.

About the author

Pablo Ricalde has been a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda since 2022. A Communication Studies graduate, he attended journalism courses and specialized in copywriting, further adding to his background as a writer.

After 4 years working in the advertising industry and 2 years in sports journalism, Pablo currently works at a Marketing Consulting firm on top of his role at Sportskeeda. He believed in sourcing information only from reliable sources, and refrains from including any opinionated content in his articles.

Pablo was introduced to baseball as a kid by his grandfather, who even coached him in Little League for a year. A massive Boston Red Sox supporter, he ended up becoming a fan in an attempt to be original (as his parents are Yankees fans). Pablo also supports the Diablos Rojos from the Mexican league, his hometown team.

His favorite players of all time are David Ortiz and Derek Jeter, while his current favorites include Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Verdugo and Randy Arozarena. His favorite moment as a baseball fan was when the Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series Championship, as he was too young to remember 2004.

A huge sports fan in general, Pablo's non-baseball interests include football, basketball, American football, and motorsports (F1, IndyCar and Nascar), music and cinema.

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Edited by Pablo Ricalde