Tigers place red hot hitter on IL before facing Nationals
The Tigers' power picture just took a hit.
Outfielder and designated hitter Kerry Carpenter is heading to the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain, manager A.J. Hinch told MLB Network Radio on Monday. Carpenter exited Sunday's win over the Twins after grabbing at his left leg while legging out a triple, and though the move is being described as precautionary, Detroit is bracing for at least a short-term absence from one of its most productive bats.
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Infielder Trey Sweeney will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo to take Carpenter's spot on the roster. He was just sent down on Saturday.
Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter (30)© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Carpenter ranks third on the team with 16 home runs this season—despite logging significantly fewer plate appearances than Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, the only two Tigers ahead of him. He's slashing .257/.285/.494 overall, but his power has surged in recent days with three homers in his last four starts. Just as he seemed to be snapping out of a midsummer slump, the injury bug returned.
It's the first time Carpenter has landed on the IL in 2025, but this isn't new territory.
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He's battled injuries in each of the past four seasons, including multiple back issues and a six-week shoulder absence in 2023. Still, when healthy, Carpenter has been one of Detroit's most consistent power threats. Since debuting in 2022, he's slugged 60 homers in just over 1,100 plate appearances—including 18 in limited action last year.
In the short term, the Tigers will likely shift more plate appearances toward Matt Vierling and Javier Baez. But there's no real replacement for Carpenter's left-handed pop—and no guarantee of how long he'll be out. Hinch said the team is taking a cautious approach, suggesting it's not a major injury, but Carpenter's history makes any absence feel like one worth watching.
Related: Tigers Could Add Another Former Yankees Infielder at the Deadline
Related: Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Sends a Message in his Sunday Night Debut
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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