Astros Send Nevin to the Tigers to Complete Trade for Henneman

The Detroit Tigers have acquired infielder-outfielder Phil Nevin, the No. 1 draft pick in the 1992 free agent draft from Cal State Fullerton, from Houston to complete the trade last week that sent reliever Mike Henneman to the Astros.

Nevin, 24, has been suffering from a muscle pull in his side. He will be examined at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital before working out today at Tiger Stadium. He has been assigned to the Tigers’ top farm club at Toledo.

“Phil’s bat is exciting,” Tiger General Manager Joe Klein said. “We expect he will be a major part of a brighter Tiger future for a good number of years. We’re excited about his acquisition.”

Nevin was the No. 1 selection in June, 1992, taken by Houston after leading Cal State Fullerton to a runner-up finish in the College World Series. A former all-county selection by The Times Orange County at El Dorado High School, Nevin won the Golden Spikes Award as the top collegiate player of 1992.

In 62 games for Houston’s triple-A farm club at Tucson, Ariz., this year, Nevin batted .291 with seven homers and 41 RBIs. In 18 games with the Astros, he batted .117 with no homers and one RBI.