Detroit Tigers option Nick Maton to Triple-A Toledo because 'adjustments need to be made'

The Detroit Tigers optioned third baseman Nick Maton to Triple-A Toledo after a costly throwing error in the eighth inning led to Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins in extra innings.

Maton, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in an offseason trade, will join the Mud Hens in Columbus, Ohio, for a series that begins Wednesday, giving him Monday and Tuesday off.

"I think this has started to build, and this isn't the environment," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "We think he can make the adjustments. Most of the time, we talk about that being offensive adjustments. In this sense, I think it's a little bit of both. ... Coming off this game, it was time to give him a different environment."

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Hinch said Maton needs a "mental reset" to make adjustments on offense and defense. Maton said getting demoted to the Triple-A level was "probably the move that needed to happen."

It was a move the Tigers could have made a long time ago.

"Obviously, I've struggled a lot," Maton said. "I know the player I can be. Everyone knows the player I can be. Maybe this will help me out. I'm not going to sulk around about it. I'm going to get to work and come back as the player I know I can be."

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The 26-year-old hit .163 with six home runs, 33 walks and 61 strikeouts over his first 72 games with the Tigers. His production — both batting average and power — steadily declined across the first three months of the season.

In June alone, he hit .156 with a .499 OPS over 22 games.

"The environment needs to be in Toledo, and he needs to commit to the full adjustments and get back to a more well-rounded baseball player, and he will," Hinch said. "We have total confidence in him. This was unexpected to be at this point, but those adjustments need to be made, and the best environment for that is in Toledo."

His chase rate improved in each of the three months this season: 26.6% in April, 25.9% in May and 24.2% in June. But Maton whiffed at fastballs — his favorite pitch to hit for damage — more often than ever before in his career in June as opposing pitchers threw him a heavy dose of breaking balls and offspeed pitches.

Two of his last three hits were against changeups.

"I'm starting to swing the bat better," Maton said. "I'm seeing (pitches) a lot better as of lately, but it's the whole game. I need to get right and get to be the player that I know I can be, and that I am."

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Entering Sunday's game, Maton was worth minus-6 defensive runs saved at third base and minus-2 defense runs saved at second base. He has been one of the worst defensive players in baseball, as well as one of the worst hitters.

The combination of struggles on offense and defense, highlighted by his error in the eighth inning and strikeout in the ninth, opened the door for the demotion to Triple-A Toledo.

After Sunday's 6-3 loss, Maton had a meeting with Hinch in the manager's office and learned he had been optioned to the minor leagues.

"Very respectful," Hinch said. "This guy is crushed when he's swinging and missing or makes an error on the field. He is very much the life-of-the-party-type personality. Respectful? Yes. Understanding? Yes. Happy or relieved? No. This guy wants to be an integral part of a good team."

The Tigers will make a corresponding roster move before Monday's series opener against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Beginning in 2024, Maton cannot be optioned to the minor leagues without clearing waivers.

Maton has a .230 batting average in 121 games, spanning parts of two seasons, in his Triple-A career.

"Maybe this will be a spark for me," Maton said. "I'll just keep on working."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nick Maton sent down by Detroit Tigers in search of 'adjustments'