Casey Fien and catcher Gerald Laird have a chat in front of the mound at Progressive Energy Field in Cleveland August 2nd.

Tigers pitching coach Rick Knapp joins the conversation on the mound.  Fien lasted just two-thirds of an inning in relief in which he gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks while striking out one.  The Tigers were pounded by the Tribe 11-1.

Casey Fien was taken in the 20th round of the 2006 amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers out of Cal Poly where he spent his junior and senior seasons.  The Santa Rosa, California native previously pitched at the NAIA level at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa before returning home to  California to join a junior college club at Golden West.  The 6-foot-2, 195-pound righty began his pro career in 2006 with Oneonta of the New York-Penn League where he went 1-1 with a 2.74 earned run average and one save while posting a K-BB mark of 37-8 in 43 innings.  His K-BB total improved to 77-10 in 2007 with West Michigan where he won six of seven decisions and collected six saves with an ERA of 3.10 in 61 innings. 

Fien skipped past High-A ball in Lakeland to join Double-A Erie in 2008 where he racked up 12 saves while striking out 42 hitters and walking just 12 over 46 innings.  He split six decisions to go along with an ERA of 2.96.  He improved to 2-0 with a 2.40 at Triple-A Toledo while whiffing 17 batters over 15 innings while walking just four.  That performance led to Baseball America ranking him 11th among its Top 30 Tigers prospects for 2009.  Last season, he continued to get the job done in Toledo by earning a save in one-third of his 42 performances with 14.  He also compiled a sterling K-BB total of 66-15 in 58 innings while going 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA. 

Fien's dreams of making the bigs were realized when he made his debut July 26th with 2 1/3 shutout innings against the visiting Chicago White Sox with a walk being his only blemish.  His final appearance of the year saw him fire three shutout innings against the Pale Hose October 2nd.  Actually, he has been unscored upon in 6 1/3 total innings against the White Sox but he pretty much struggled against everyone else.  He was scored upon in his next three outings after his debut and suffered an extra innings loss against the Tribe July 31st.  When he was roughed up again by the Indians August 2nd, he didn't see major league action again until September.  He finished with a record of 0-1 and a 7.94 ERA with a 9-6 K-BB total over 11 1/3 innings.

The 26 year-old Fien was let go by the Tigers late last month to make room for newly acquired outfielder Johnny Damon and was claimed off waivers March 1st by Boston.  However, the Red Sox decided to set him free and that allowed the Jays to claim him yesterday.

Baseball America ranked Fien as the Tigers number 27 prospect in its 2010 Handbook.  BA says he throws a four-seam fastball at 91-93 miles per hour along with a two-seamer to achieve more sink.  He also throws a slider that is said to be inconsistent along with a below-average changeup.  The 2009 Handbook states his sinker is his go-to pitch and his breaking pitch is a slurvy offering at 82-84 MPH.    The scouting report also indicates he needs to improve his secondary pitches and refine his command.   BA projects him to be a middle reliever in the bigs.

To make room for Fien, the Jays have placed righty Scott Richmond on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from a shoulder impingement.