The Detroit Tigers have been the feel-good story of the MLB season, rising from a sub-.500 team less that a year ago, to a playoff team that went to Game 5 of the American League Division Series, then to the best record in the AL after Memorial Day this season.
But even as the Tigers are making their fans feel good, a long list of their players have been feeling bad. Detroit has been beset with injuries since spring training, and the team is still waiting on the return of at least eight players — including $15 million offseason free agent pitching acquisition Alex Cobb.
The outfield has been hit especially hard by the injury buzzsaw. Until last Friday, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling all had yet to play a single game, after combining for 168 appearances in center field alone last season.
The Tigers got what manager A.J. Hinch called a “big upgrade” to the outfield on Friday, however, when Vierling — who has been dealing with a strained rotator cuff muscle — was finally activated from the injured list.
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The bad news for Detroit is, on Tuesday Vierling went right back on the IL. The reason, according to a report by The Detroit News, was that after Monday’s game at home against the San Francisco Giants, the 28-year-old, five-year veteran reported a recurrence of the soreness in his right shoulder.
“There wasn’t a singular event or episode or anything. He came in after the game and reported some shoulder soreness so we sent him for tests, had him see some doctors,” Hinch said, as quoted by The Detroit News. “We need to get further testing but we can’t mess with this, especially off the recent shoulder issue he had.”
Vierling, who recorded two hits in the 11 at-bats since his return, was placed on the 10-day IL. But there was no word from the Tigers on how long he was expected to be shelved this time.
The day was not without good news for the Tigers, however. Pérez — who was called “a fun, impactful player” by Hinch — was activated after appearing in just six rehab games in the minor leagues.
The 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic brings a high degree of versatility to the Tigers’ lineup. He is a switch hitter, and according to Hinch, he will see time at all three outfield positions.
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