Dusty Ryan arrived in Detroit for his Major League callup on Tuesday and had caught Freddy Garcia in a simulated game by the time many players arrived at Comerica Park. He then went out for batting practice and drove the ball so far out to left-center field that he hit the statue of Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer on the concourse.

Manager Jim Leyland brought up the feat talking with reporters Thursday morning. Teammates confirmed it. Then Ryan owned up to it.

"I did," Ryan said, "and the next pitch went at my head."

That was first-base coach and batting-practice pitcher Andy Van Slyke having fun with the rookie. Nonetheless, Ryan's power is serious.

"That's far," infielder Ramon Santiago said. "He's a big guy, too."

Ryan is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, which makes him a big target behind the plate for pitchers. With 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 102 games between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie, he doesn't have the numbers of a big power threat, but apparently the distance. He also has a big arm behind the plate, enough that Ryan admitted the Tigers almost tried him out as a pitcher in Spring Training.

"This guy's got a cannon," Leyland said.

Ryan made his Major League debut on Thursday, when Leyland inserted him to catch the ninth inning of the 7-1 loss to the Angels. He took an offspeed pitch from Justin Speier for a called strike to end the game.

Come Sunday, he'll get a chance to test his power and his arm behind the plate. Leyland said he'll give him his first big league start that day, putting him behind the plate to catch his Toledo Mud Hens teammate, Chris Lambert.

Considering Ryan entered the year with a .225 career average in four Minor League seasons, this year has been a relative breakout year. He credits part of it to teammate Brent Dlugach, who convinced him to add a toe-tap in his batting stance as a timing mechanism. Van Slyke also worked with the positioning of his hands in Spring Training, putting him in a better position to swing.

The product has been encouraging for an organization sorely lacking in young catching. A healthy season has also been big for him after a torn meniscus in his right knee sidelined him for three months last year.

He isn't expected to get many starts this month, but Sunday is one chance. He doesn't have any statues to aim for at the Metrodome, but a first impression is a good target.