As a rookie in 2014, Detroit Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle never imagined he’d reach 10 years of MLB service time. The milestone is considered the holy grail for players, fully vesting them in the pension plan.
For Kahnle, it started to feel within reach when he received his gold card — an lifetime pass granting free admittance to any MLB regular-season game — after hitting eight years of service time.
“You’re like, ‘Oh, wow, only two years left,'” Kahnle said.
On May 6, Kahnle’s career clock struck 10 years.
“It’s been a long time,” Kahnle said.
He added: “Did I ever think I’d get to this point? Probably not.”
Fittingly, the Tigers were scheduled to play the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field — the site of Kahnle’s MLB debut on April 3, 2014, as a member of the Rockies — but the first game of the series was postponed due to rain.
That didn’t stop the celebration.
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“The rain made us not play, but it doesn’t take the day away from Tommy,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “We had a little celebration inside during our mini workout. It’s a huge accomplishment to stand this test of time.”
“It’s an honor,” Kahnle said.
Despite being in the bigs for ten years, Tommy Kahnle still brings his childlike excitement to work with him each day.
Congratulations on reaching 10 Years of Service Time, Tommy! pic.twitter.com/x6ZTf8NpYz
The 35-year-old has pitched in 11 MLB seasons for five teams: Rockies (2014-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), New York Yankees (2017-20, 2023-24), Los Angeles Dodgers (2022) and Tigers (2025). Over 402 games — all as a reliever — he owns a 3.38 ERA with 176 walks and 464 strikeouts across 386⅓ innings.
The Yankees selected Kahnle — a native of upstate New York — in the fifth round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of Lynn University, then the Rockies scooped him up in the 2013 Rule 5 Draft.
The high point of his career was competing in the 2024 World Series, whereas the low point was undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2020.
“That’s what I’ve been searching for these last five, six years,” Kahnle said of the World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Dodgers. “You really hone in on trying to win and get it done. Last year sucked, but it was also pretty awesome to get there.”
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There are plenty of miles on his arm, but Kahnle still shows up to the ballpark with a youthful energy.
“It’s kept me going,” he said.
Fewer than 10% of all MLB players reach 10 years of service time.
And Kahnle is one of them.
“Definitely pride,” he said. “It’s hard to get to this point. The amount of guys I played with through the minors and the majors, and then I’m the one that somehow managed to wiggle all the way here, it is crazy to think about. It’s a cool moment.”
Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel contributed to this report.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers’ Tommy Kahnle reflects on 10 years of MLB service time: ‘It’s an honor’
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
