The Tigers are facing a few injuries in their outfield mix, with each of Matt Vierling, Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez battling health issues. Vierling has already been ruled out for Opening Day due to a rotator cuff strain and Meadows might not make it for the opener either.
Meadows has been experiencing a nerve issue in his upper right arm. He tells Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that the issue is with the musculocutaneous nerve specifically, which isn’t progressing much. Meadows still hasn’t been cleared to throw, which obviously means he can’t play, though he has been doing some other activities that don’t involve throwing.
“He’s not full go,” manager A.J. Hinch said today. “He’s just making incremental steps, whatever that means. And he’s not ready for games. He’s not close to games right now, but that can change as soon as soon as we shake this nerve up, wake it up. Things are better than they were, but still not full go.” Meadows still thinks he can be ready by Opening Day but that will obviously be dependent on things improving in the next week or two.
Pérez has some back tightness and was supposed to return to the lineup today but that has not come to pass and he might be held out of tomorrow’s game as well. With Vierling and Meadows hurt, Pérez would have been a logical candidate to jump into the outfield but his back issues make that a bit iffy. Hinch downplayed the concern, saying that the club is just being “uber cautious”, but it’s yet another question mark for the club.
Riley Greene will be in one outfield spot and could perhaps be joined by Meadows and/or Pérez. If not, Kerry Carpenter could take some time out there, letting Spencer Torkelson get some time as the designated hitter. Justyn-Henry Malloy is also on the 40-man and the Tigers also have utility players Andy Ibáñez and Zach McKinstry as potential contributors.
Some other notes from around the American League…
- Orioles utility player Jorge Mateo is recovering from last year’s elbow surgery. A month ago, general manager Mike Elias stated that Mateo was unlikely to be ready by Opening Day, but the player himself is now feeling a bit more optimistic. “I think we’re going to make it,” he said this week to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. That could be a key development for the O’s since shortstop Gunnar Henderson is battling an intercostal strain and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Opening Day himself. Even if Henderson is good to go, having Mateo on the roster next to him would give the club a bit more cover at the position.
- Royals right-hander Carlos Estévez signed a two-year, $22MM deal with the Royals about six weeks ago but still hasn’t made his spring training debut with his new club. The reliever has been battling some back tightness which has put him a bit behind schedule. Manager Matt Quatraro today provided a positive update to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, saying that Estévez threw live batting practice yesterday, which went “really well.” That puts him in line to make his Cactus League debut on Friday. With about two weeks until Opening Day, Estévez should be able to avoid the injured list if he doesn’t hit any setbacks between now and then.
When was the last season Detroit had a Meadows not on the IL a majority of the season?
Some of these guys are injured more often than football players. Baseball used to be considered a no contact, limited injury sport. But that was before guys learned how to milk the injured list.
I’m not exactly sure why the Tigers wanted Carpenter at DH so badly to begin with, he doesn’t seem too bad in the outfield.
Coming up nobody seemed to like his outfield play, but my eyes say he’s not too bad and he has a strong arm. Gotta find someone to play center though.
Tork was average defensively last year and wants to play in the field more. Tork and Malloy should get lots of looks early if they keep playing well. Jahmai Jones might be worth a look in the OF as well
@trey… You’re right, Carpenter has proven himself as a serviceable RF but they’re being extra cautious with him as he’s been prone to injury. It’s the same reason they will be hesitant to move Riley Greene back to CF, even though he can play it adequately.
He couldn’t hit lefties
Will Parker Meadows help his brother return to baseball?
What happened to Austin Meadows? Is he okay?
Austin suffers from a debilitating anxiety disorder which has basically ended his professional baseball career. It’s a shame. Like the young, Moonlight Graham, he was good.
I can’t figure out how Parker. A numb nerve in his throwing arm. I’ve never even heard of a pitcher having a musculocutaneous nerve disorder.
It’s a nerve in the armpit. Part of the brachial plexus. Weird.
But I wonder how he is doing in life outside the baseball world. Hopefully he is doing better in some way.
Parker Meadows is a great young man who had a great end to last season. Hopefully his nerve issue will be resolved soon, and he can get back on the field by Opening Day.
And yet, all of these injuries and different teams wanting/need Outfielders Alex Verdugo is still sitting at home…
Tigers need a CF’er. Verdugo is not a CF’er.
To me, Meteo is more than a utility player. He was the Os starting SS in their winning 2022 season. And he was the starting SS in that 101 win 2023 season, but as planned by the FO, Henderson was gradually getting more and more starts there (and equally at 3rd) as that season progressed. Great to hear he could be good to go. The Birds r in good hands.
Gunnar took ground balls and some swings in the cage today, which is excellent news.
Tigers’ outfield depth is being quietly exposed as a major structural weakness that could force an early-season trade—or even a surprising roster move.
I mean reastically wasn’t too weak. Just unlucky that we basically lost 3 of our top center field options ( if you include baddoo.) How many teams can lose that many options at any 1 position.
They seem to be in okay shape even with three OFers out. Carp can play in the OF and Malloy will get some reps. Jahmai Jones has looked pretty good in camp and they have him focusing on the OF.
Perez and Vierling will be back soon enough and they can patch the hole until then.