Will Tim Collins be able to pitch in MLB again?
Former Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Tim Collins is reportedly attempting an MLB comeback, per Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic.
"Free agent LHP Tim Collins is pursuing a comeback. Collins, 36, last pitched in spring training 2020 - and was a MiLB pitching coach for the Phillies in 2024. He'll throw for scouts this Wednesday at the Cressey Sports Performance pro day in Palm Beach Gardens, FL," Ghiroli wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The 36-year-old reliever was one of the better left-handed relievers in baseball during his time with the Royals. He spent the 2011-2014 seasons in Kansas City, pitching to a 3.54 ERA across 228 total appearances. Collins also spent one season with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and pitched nine games with the Chicago Cubs in 2019.
In recent seasons, it seemed as if his big league career was over. In fact, as Ghiroli mentioned, he even worked as a minor league pitching coach during the 2024 campaign. He clearly still has the desire to pitch in MLB, however.
Collins could be an option as a left-handed specialist for potential suitors. However, his numbers are not much different when it comes to right-handed and left-handed hitters. In his career, left-handed batters have slashed .226/.339/.381 across 482 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Collins has held right-handers to a .235/.332/.358 slash line in 568 plate appearances.
Potential Suitors for Former Royals Reliever Tim Collins
There are not many teams that would turn down extra left-handed relief help. With that being said, Collins will need to show he still has something left in the tank when he throws for scouts on Wednesday. At the very least, it would not be surprising to see Collins land a minor league contract.
A reunion with the Royals could make sense. Kansas City may end up already having three left-handers in the bullpen at the MLB level, but having extra depth to serve as a safety net for potential injury or underperformance would not hurt.
The Baltimore Orioles may also be a suitor. They could use another southpaw in the bullpen. In all reality, many teams fit as suitors for Collins.
Nevertheless, he will need to prove that he is still capable of pitching at a respectable level on Wednesday. Collins' journey back to the big leagues will be intriguing to follow. One has to imagine that Royals fans are rooting for the former Kansas City relief pitcher.