First hit for Tigers outfielder was 962 days in the making [Video]

CLEVELAND — Ryan Vilade was 22 years and 7 months old when he made his big-league debut for the Colorado Rockies.

It was brief, and he didn’t stick around long enough to get a hit, run, RBI or just about anything else in seven plate appearances.

When Vilade took the field on Tuesday for the Detroit Tigers — 962 days after Debut No. 1 — he was still young (barely 25 years old) but perhaps a little wiser after three seasons of Triple-A ball for three different organizations.

Vilade acknowledged that in some ways Tuesday felt like MLB debut, part 2.

“But it was different,” he said. “I was nervous but confident. I’m older now and was ready for the opportunity.”

Vilade found out Monday — an off-day for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens — that he was being summoned to the big leagues, a replacement for struggling rookie center fielder Parker Meadows.

That was enough time for …