By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Outfielder Tyler Collins got the call Monday night. The Detroit Tigers wanted him at Comerica Park for Tuesday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Collins drove up Tuesday morning from Toledo and then filled in as designated hitter, replacing the injured Victor Martinez.

For Collins, one of the last players cut from the 25-man roster in spring training, the assignment is another opportunity to show what he can do, even though his promotion will probably be temporary.

"Obviously you want to be in the big leagues," Collins said before Tuesday's game. "That's everybody's goal. You hate for Victor to go down, but I think this is going to give him a chance to get healthy and get back to his old ways.

"I want to be here, and I want to play here," Collins added. "I feel like I belong here. That's it. You want to go help the team win."

In 32 games with Triple-A Toledo this season, Collins has a batting average of .248 and an on-base percentage of .338,

Collins has been much better against right-handed pitchers; in 76 at bats against righties, he is batting .316. Conversely, against left-handed pitchers, Collins has an average of .108 in 37 at bats.

"You try and take the same approach against righties or lefties," Collins said, "but just go out there and hit line drives, put a barrel on the ball and let everything else fall into place."

Taking on the role normally filled by Martinez, a perennial All-Star, could be daunting for a 24-year-old making only his 20th appearance in the big leagues, but Collins does not consider it his job to be Martinez.

"I'm not coming to fill in for Victor Martinez," Collins said. "I'm just coming to play Tyler Collins' game and try to help the team win.

"There's no pressure," Collins added. "It's here. It's baseball. The only thing that's changed is the name on the front of the jersey. That's it."

Maturity, preparation for games and discipline at the plate are areas in which Collins said he has improved since last season. As far as the last item on that list, 15 walks through 32 games in Toledo show the progress. In Tuesday's game in Detroit, Collins had a hit and a walk.

"Just seeing the ball better, getting my foot down earlier and learning to be disciplined enough to lay off of pitches that you don't want to swing at and go ahead and swinging at the ones you do," Collins said. "I've always wanted to increase [the walks] because I always felt like I could do a better job at it, so the fact that it's translated a little bit is nice."

In all likelihood, Collins will be returned to Toledo when Martinez returns, but Collins wants to make a lasting impression in whatever time he has.

"I want to go out and do my part, and I want to play the game that I know how to play and I feel comfortable playing," Collins said. "I feel like that's what's brought me this far, so hopefully I can stick this time and show them that I can play."