Sports
Chester Resident Starts For Detroit Tigers
Rick Porcello earns fifth slot in rotation, will wear new number in 2013 as part of deal to aid Sandy victims.
A Chester Township resident and Seton Hall Prep graduate will round out the starting pitching rotation for the Detroit Tigers. Rick Porcello, 24, received the news last Tuesday from Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, according to the Detroit Free Press. In January, Porcello signed a one-year, $5.1 million contract with the team and competed with Drew Smyly for the fifth and final spot in the pitching rotation.
Porcello didn’t walk anyone all spring, and he averaged about a strikeout per inning (21 strikeouts in 24 innings).
Porcello, a Morristown native, made headlines last fall when he gave up his number 48 to incoming outfielder Torri Hunter in exchange for a donation to aid Hurricane Sandy victims.
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According to the Detroit Free Press Hunter, who signed a two-year $26 million dollar contract with the Tigers, was surprised when Porcello turned down "a nice dollar amount" for himself as payment for the jersey number, but was happy to make the donation.
Porcello will wear number 21 in 2013.
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