ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before the 2021 season, Ian Krol hadn't pitched in MLB since May 27, 2018, as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. By last year, he had completely dropped off the radar, throwing for the Nerds Herd in the City of Champions Cup in Joliet, Illinois.
And then the Detroit Tigers called.
Krol, 30, signed a minor-league contract in December. On July 9, he finally returned to the big leagues. He previously pitched for the Tigers in 2014-15, a couple of years before his career seemed busted.