Tigers manager A.J. Hinch offered a vague and largely uninformative update on injured center fielder Parker Meadows on Sunday, following his eight-game rehab stint split between Single-A and Triple-A. “I talked to him late last night to get a little bit more feedback on him. He’s doing really well. We’ll have a plan to make sure,” Hinch said—offering little clarity on Meadows’ timeline or what exactly that “plan” entailed.
But the speculation didn’t last long. On Monday afternoon, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that Meadows was expected to rejoin the team for their series opener against the White Sox. The Tigers confirmed his return shortly thereafter.
To make room on the roster, Justyn-Henry Malloy was optioned back down, and newly acquired pitcher Ryan Cusick—claimed off waivers from the Athletics just two days earlier—was designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Tigers activate Parker Meadows 60 games into Detroit’s season, option Justyn-Henry Malloy, DFA Ryan Cusick
Despite the surprising success of Javier Báez as a temporary center field solution, the Tigers have eagerly awaited the return of Parker Meadows. Since debuting in 2023, Meadows has only offered glimpses of his potential. He struggled mightily out of the gate last May—batting below .100 before being demoted—but bounced back with a strong July before an injury sidelined him again.
Once he settled in later in the year, Meadows hit .296 with an .840 OPS over August and September, and followed that up with a .269 average and .806 OPS in the postseason. He earned the role of Opening Day center fielder in 2024, only to suffer a spring training injury that delayed his season.
In Meadows’ absence, center field has been a revolving door, with Báez, Wenceel Pérez, and even Riley Greene getting time there. Meadows’ return should bring much-needed stability to the outfield, freeing Greene to settle into left field. It also helps bolster depth at a time when Matt Vierling returned from the IL only to land right back on it.
Now, the hope is that Meadows can stay healthy and productive for the remainder of the season. He’s rejoining a team with the best winning percentage in baseball and opens his return with a favorable matchup against the White Sox—an ideal situation for a fresh start.
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