Tigers designate Don Kelly for assignment, activate Dirks

DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers have designated utility man Don Kelly for assignment to make room on the 25-man roster for outfielder Andy Dirks' return.

Dirks was activated from the disabled list Friday.

Kelly hit a big home run to help the Tigers eliminate the New York Yankees in last year's playoffs, but he's hitting only .175 in 2012, and not even his versatility could make up for that.

Dirks has been sidelined since May 31 with right achilles tendinitis. Dirks hit .216 with a double, two home runs and five RBI in 10 games with the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Tigers also announced, via twitter, that relief pitcher Al Alburquerque, who underwent surgery to stabilize a non-displaced stress fracture in his right elbow, had his rehab assignment transferred from Single-A Lakeland to Triple-A Toledo.

Alburquerque appeared in 41 games with the Tigers during the 2011 season, where he posted a 6-1 record, 1.87 ERA and 67 strikeouts. Detroit also said that left-hander Daniel Schlereth is joining Single-A Lakeland to begin a rehab assignment.