Detroit Tigers' Brenan Hanifee is living proof that what goes around, comes around

“It’s unfortunate for him. We think it’s minor, but him not being able to go for the foreseeable future made the decision for us.”

It’s not the way any player wants to get called up. But Hanifee, a staple in the Tigers’ bullpen the last year and a half, is happy for the opportunity, especially after being among the final cuts out of spring training.

“I know I didn’t get called up for my performance,” he said. “Another guy went down and that’s how I ended up here. But whatever it takes to get here. It’s a shame he went down but it’s an opportunity and I’m happy to be back.”

Hanifee, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning Sunday, had a rough spring. Even though he was in a crowded battle for a roster spot, he was trying to work on a different approach to attacking left-handed hitters, which has been a struggle for him.

He was trying to develop a new changeup and ended up throwing himself out of sync.

“Kind of the same old story,” he said. “Just trying to get better against the opposite side. I went down there and started working on a couple of different things and I think I got better.”

He did get better. Left-handed hitters were 4 for 20 against him at Triple-A. He found a different changeup grip that he likes, but more than that, he altered his mentality and approach against lefties.

“I just tried to figure out what works for me, not necessarily for other people,” he said. “It’s just, this is what I got and this is how we’re going to use it against lefties. As opposed to, this is the uniform mold against someone who is left-handed. You have to break it down for yourself, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that.”

Seabold was signed by the Tigers on March 23 when the team was in Scottsdale, Arizona, for two final exhibition games. Hanifee was sent back to Toledo while Seabold went to San Diego to start the season.

It had to be a kick in the pants, but Hanifee didn’t pout about it.

“Sitting there feeling sorry for yourself is not going to help you,” he said. “I’m not the first guy to get sent down and I won’t be the last. It just depends on how you take it. Pouting wasn’t going to help me at all. Might as well just take it and work on what you can and try to make it back.”

On deck: Atlanta Braves

▶ Series: Three games at Truist Park, Atlanta

▶ First pitch: Tuesday-Wednesday — 7:15 p.m.; Thursday — 12:15 p.m.

▶ TV/radio: All three games Detroit Sports Net/97.1 FM.

▶ Probables: Tuesday — RHP Casey Mize (2-1, 2.51) vs. LHP Martin Perez (1-1, 2.70); Wednesday — LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.72) vs. RHP JR Ritchie (1-0, 2.57); Thursday — LHP Framber Valdez (2-1, 3.41) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.95).

Scouting report

▶ Mize, Tigers: He’s been dialed in, especially in his last three starts (2-0, 0.98) where he’s allowed two earned runs in 18.1 innings with 19 strikeouts. The sample is short but the splits are crazy. He holds lefties to a .325 OPS, but righties have clipped him (1.071 OPS). The primary reason, righties are 9 for 24 against his four-seamer and sinker. Lefties are 4 for 41 against his splitter and slider.

▶ Perez, Braves: The ageless wonder, still getting it done at age 35 and in his 15th season. He’s holding hitters to a .198 average with a 0.943 WHIP. As usual, his elite sinker-changeup combination is neutralizing right-handed hitters (3 for 30 combined against those two pitches). He’s had some trouble with left-handed hitters (.853 OPS). He’s coming off a short start against the Nationals where he allowed two homers in three innings.

Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Brenan Hanifee, back with Detroit Tigers, made most of his Toledo time