The Detroit Tigers have been one of the MLB’s most inspiring stories this season, transforming from a sub-.500 team less than a year ago to a playoff contender that pushed the ALDS to five games, and now boasting the best record in the American League as of Memorial Day. But despite their success on the field, the Tigers have battled a wave of injuries dating back to spring training and are still waiting for the return of at least eight players — including offseason pitching addition Alex Cobb, who signed a $15 million deal.
The outfield has been especially impacted, with Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, and Matt Vierling all missing the start of the season after combining for 168 center field appearances last year. That changed last Friday when Vierling, recovering from a strained rotator cuff, was activated — a move manager A.J. Hinch called a “big upgrade.”
However, the good news didn’t last long. On Tuesday, Vierling was placed back on the 10-day injured list after reporting renewed shoulder soreness following Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants. According to The Detroit News, there wasn’t a specific incident that triggered the discomfort. Hinch explained, “He came in after the game and reported some shoulder soreness… we need to get further testing, but we can’t mess with this.”
Vierling had gone 2-for-11 since returning to the lineup, and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out this time.
There was a silver lining for Detroit, though. Wenceel Pérez was activated after playing six rehab games in the minors. The 24-year-old Dominican native is a switch hitter with the ability to play all three outfield spots, and Hinch praised him as “a fun, impactful player” who adds much-needed versatility to the Tigers’ roster.
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