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a day ago
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Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling re-injures right shoulder; Wenceel Pérez activated
Matt Vierling is still injured. The Detroit Tigers placed Vierling, an outfielder/third baseman who recently returned from a right shoulder injury, on the injured list Tuesday, May 27, with right shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old had been active for just four days between stints on the injured list, playing in four games. Advertisement There wasn't an event that caused Vierling's right shoulder to become an issue again. "We put him on the injured list, which should tell you we don't think he can play," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. "We'll have more information as we get more tests, and more doctors need to weigh in." JAVY SPEAKS: Tigers' Javier Báez, A.J. Hinch react to ejection from umpire Phil Cuzzi To replace Vierling, the Tigers activated outfielder Wenceel Pérez from the 60-day injured list following his recovering from lumbar spine inflammation. Advertisement Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Pérez will make his 2025 season debut as the Tigers' center fielder Tuesday. The 25-year-old suffered the lower back injury in late March during the final Grapefruit League game in spring training. "We should not steal any joy away from getting Wenceel back," Hinch said. "This guy is so fun to be around. He's energetic, big smile, bounces around the clubhouse." Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez poses for a photo during picture day of spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Meanwhile, Vierling had been sidelined since Feb. 23 — the second game of spring training — with a strained rotator cuff muscle in his right shoulder. He spent three months recovering and rehabbing before the Tigers activated him Friday, May 23, against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. Advertisement Four days later, Vierling landed on the injured list again. It's the same shoulder. "There wasn't a singular event or an episode or anything," Hinch said. "He came in and complained of some shoulder soreness. We sent him for tests. He saw some doctors. We're going to need to get further testing, but we can't mess with this coming off the most recent shoulder issue that he's had." This story will be updated. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Advertisement Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers news: Matt Vierling injury returns him to injured list
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a day ago
- Business
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Wenceel Pérez provides Detroit Tigers something they don't have without him
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers expected Wenceel Pérez to be their primary center fielder, relying on him for stability while waiting for fellow outfielders Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling to return from their injuries. That was the plan — until the final game of the Grapefruit League schedule in spring training, when Pérez reported a back injury. As his teammates boarded a plane, he had to stay behind at the Tigers' facility in Lakeland, Florida. Advertisement "It was tough because I was trying to get through it," said Pérez, who has dealt with the same lower back injury multiple in his professional career, beginning in 2022. "It was just getting worse and worse and worse." This time, Pérez was sidelined for 65 days. He returned Tuesday, May 27. "I'm so excited to play this game again," Pérez said. SATURDAY'S NOTEBOOK: Tigers' Alex Cobb pitched through 'a lot of discomfort' in first rehab start Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in his first at-bat of the season against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Comerica Park on May 27, 2025 in Detroit. In his return game, Pérez — starting in center field and batting sixth — hit a solo home run off All-Star right-hander Logan Webb in the second inning of Tuesday's 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. Advertisement Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers More notably, Pérez hit the homer on his first swing of the 2025 season. Webb threw him three sinkers in a row. The first two were inside for balls, but the third one stayed in the strike zone, allowing Pérez — a switch-hitter batting from the left side — to turn on it for a solo home run to right field. It was just the fourth homer allowed by Webb this season, spanning 73⅓ innings in 12 starts. "I was just thinking to be patient," Pérez said. "I was trying to come down a little bit. I was a little bit excited. And then I tried to get a good pitch, and that's what I got. It feels great to be back and help the team out right away." To get to that moment, Pérez had to play six games during a rehab assignment: two games for High-A West Michigan, two games for Low-A Lakeland and two games in Triple-A Toledo. Advertisement He started in West Michigan because the Tigers had the maximum number of players rehabbing in Toledo, transferred to Lakeland due to weather issues in Toledo and completed his rehab with a normal stint in Toledo. "That was not a vacation," Pérez said. Pérez, 25, is hitting .308 (4-for-13) in four games since his return to the Tigers. His switch-hit ability — the Tigers' lone switch-hitter — provides flexibility in the batting order, as well as allowing rest days for left-handed hitters Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry. He performs significantly better as a left-handed hitter against right-handed pitchers, but still provides competitive plate appearances from the right side. Advertisement Pérez took over as the Tigers' primary center fielder upon his return, but only until Meadows returns from the injured list, which seems likely to happen Monday, June 2. "So proud for the kid," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He put in a ton of work. Injuries are hard on everybody, but think about the last game of spring training, and we're getting on the plane to go to the exhibition game, and he's got to report that he's not feeling great. That's a crushing blow anytime during the spring, but that's like the most exciting day of the year at that point." HERE'S AN IDEA: Can Wenceel Pérez become super utility player? Here's what Tigers think Two months later, Pérez rejoined the Tigers with the same joy he has always had. He laughed with teammates in the clubhouse, smiled in pregame warmups, bounced around in the outfield and showed no fear in the batter's box. Advertisement Pérez also made an immediate impact with his first swing. "The team is doing great," Pérez said. "It wasn't good for me (to be on the injured list), but it made me stronger to come back again and play good again." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wenceel Pérez provides Detroit Tigers something they don't have
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
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Detroit Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe suffers right elbow injury
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson Jobe has an injury. The rookie pitcher suffered a right elbow flexor strain, as announced by the Detroit Tigers on Friday, May 30, before their series opener against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Advertisement The 22-year-old was removed in the fifth inning of his start Wednesday, May 28, after using 95 pitches to complete 4⅔ innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park. He didn't talk to reporters after the game and wasn't seen in the clubhouse. His average fastball velocity was down 1.5 mph. Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe walks into the dugout after a pitching change during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Jobe, whom the Tigers selected No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft, owns a 4.22 ERA with 27 walks and 39 strikeouts across 49 innings in 10 starts during the 2025 season. He said he wasn't "feeling like I was at my best physically" after his second-to-last start, May 23 against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. Advertisement His 1.49 WHIP ranks 109th among 128 pitches with at least 40 innings. BEHIND THE PLATE: Tigers catcher Jake Rogers puts team first after shifting to backup role The Tigers (37-20) entered Friday with MLB's best record behind a starting rotation of Jobe, Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson and Casey Mize, with Keider Montero as the next-man-up for doubleheaders and injuries. The Tigers' rotation ranks fourth in MLB with a 3.22 ERA, trailing only the Texas Rangers (2.87), New York Mets (2.91) and Royals (3.02). Jobe made his MLB debut in September 2024. He dealt with two injuries in the minor leagues: lumbar spine inflammation in 2023 and a left hamstring strain in 2024. Advertisement MORE ABOUT HIM: What Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe did this offseason to become even more unhittable This breaking news story will be updated. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jackson Jobe injury update: Tigers pitcher out with right elbow
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4 days ago
- Business
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Tarik Skubal showing leadership of AL-best Detroit Tigers — on and off the field
The Detroit Tigers returned to Comerica Park on May 9 after a 10-game road trip that spanned three time zones: three games in Houston against the Astros (Central), four in Anaheim against the Angels (Pacific) and three in Denver against the Rockies (Mountain). The trip was bookended by a home series in the Eastern Time Zone. Advertisement This marked the first time in franchise history the Tigers played four consecutive series in four different time zones. The Tigers' plane didn't land until 2 a.m. May 9 — less than 17 hours before the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers in Detroit — but left-hander Tarik Skubal flew home ahead of the team plane to prepare for his start. "We had a long road trip and guys got in late," said Skubal, whose fastball topped 99.5 mph twice in the first inning and maxed out at 100.1 mph in the seventh inning, after the 2-1 victory. "You could expect maybe a little bit of a low-energy game, but I didn't want that to happen." That's on-field leadership. Advertisement Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park in Detroit on May 9, 2025. He didn't ease into his start. He came out like a flamethrower. "That was by design," Skubal said. "I think guys came out a little tired — not saying we did come out tired, but I just didn't want that to happen with the late plane ride. I wanted to energize the guys with a quick first inning and get us in the dugout ready to hit." Skubal — the 2024 American League Cy Young winner — took a perfect game into the sixth inning before Josh Smith hit a two-strike fastball for a leadoff single, but Skubal still dominated: seven innings of one-run ball with zero walks and 12 strikeouts. Advertisement He generated 32 whiffs, the most by any Tigers pitcher since the start of the pitch-tracking era in 2008. Six whiffs occurred in the first inning. "There was probably a little bit extra effort in the first inning," Skubal said. The Tigers extended their winning streak to five games, improved their AL-best record to 26-13 and remained atop MLB with a plus-84 run differential. Is there something special brewing? "I don't know," Skubal said. "What month is it? Early May. There's a lot of baseball to be played. I don't want to get ahead of that. ... What makes it special is we show up and try to win every game. ... We need to focus on tomorrow." Advertisement That's off-field leadership. He sounds like manager A.J. Hinch. "The only way I know how to prepare is to get our guys focused," Hinch said, reflecting on the Tigers' AL-best record. "When you're getting those answers from them, it's my fault. All they're going to talk about is the next series because that's all they hear from me, but I'm very proud of our players and our organization." [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Skubal is the best player on one of the best teams in baseball. Advertisement It would've been easy to play into the hype. After all, the Tigers have a 99.9% chance to make the postseason, according to Baseball Reference. They also have a 90.7% chance to win the AL Central — something that hasn't been done since 2014 — and an MLB-best 19.5% chance to win the World Series, which hasn't happened in Detroit since 1984. But Skubal isn't thinking about October. He's focused on May 10. "Our focus needs to be on getting better each and every day," Skubal said. "I think we do that, and it shows. That's something that A.J. has instilled in everybody. Whatever happened in the last four games doesn't matter when we come to the yard tomorrow. I think our team truly believes that." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal leads the way on and off the field
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers puts team first after shifting to backup role
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jake Rogers used to be the Detroit Tigers' No. 1 catcher. Now, he's their No. 2. The Tigers recently flipped their catching depth chart, elevating Dillon Dingler into the starting role. As Dingler emerged as one of MLB's best catchers, both offensively and defensively, Rogers shifted into the backup role. Advertisement "We got another great catcher," Rogers said Wednesday, May 28. "It's tough. I'm used to playing a lot, but that's just not my role anymore. I know my role. I'm going to be here for him with whatever he needs, and whenever they want me to play, I'm going to be ready." Rogers isn't bitter. He's bought in. Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) looks on during an at bat in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 24, 2025. "As long as we're winning, I love it," Rogers said. The numbers don't lie. Dingler, 26, is hitting .289 with four home runs, two walks and 42 strikeouts in 41 games. He's also been worth plus-6 defensive runs saved in 342⅓ innings behind the plate. His offense ranks sixth among 20 catchers with at least 150 plate appearances, while his defense ranks fourth among 19 catchers with at least 300 innings. Only Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez ranks higher than Dingler in both categories. Advertisement "We're a year removed from him being the guy getting the opportunity," manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday of Rogers getting replaced as the No. 1 catcher. "Last year, Jake caught so much because we trusted him so much. Just because Dillon has done well doesn't mean we trust Jake less or we expect less of him. It's really important that we keep it all in perspective." Rogers, 30, remains an above-average defensive catcher, but his offense continues to lag behind. If Dingler weren't hitting, Rogers would probably still be the Tigers' No. 1 catcher. J.V. ON SKUB: Aces then and now: Justin Verlander wants Tigers to 'ride that horse' Tarik Skubal But Dingler is hitting. Advertisement And Rogers is not. "I want to play every day," Rogers said, "but when you got a player playing that well, it's tough to play every day." Despite the demotion, Rogers has the respect of his teammates — and then some. He hasn't lost the clubhouse. "Jake is awesome," said right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle, who owns a 1.50 ERA in six innings with Rogers catching. "He's been an incredible teammate. I've seen it since Day 1 of spring training. He came up to me and gave me a big hug. I was like, 'Oh, this is awesome.' He's a great catcher. He does everything for us. He will go out there, lay on the ground and pretty much die for you. I love that. That's pretty much everybody in here." Advertisement [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] For now, the plan is simple: Rogers will start once per three-game series, and Dingler will catch the other two games. In the Royals series, Dingler is scheduled to start Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, with Rogers getting the nod Sunday, June 1. Left-hander Tarik Skubal is starting Saturday's game. It's another Skubal-Dingler pairing. With Dingler catching this season, Skubal has a 1.55 ERA with two walks and 74 strikeouts across 52⅓ innings in eight starts — including his most recent outing, even though Rogers was healthy. With Rogers catching, Skubal has a 5.51 ERA, five walks and 18 strikeouts across 16⅓ innings in three starts. Advertisement The Tigers are riding the hot hand behind the plate. JACK IS BACK: Jack Flaherty takes 'step in right direction' in best start of 2025 season Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) shakes hands with catcher Jake Rogers (34) to celebrate 4-3 win over San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Although Rogers isn't the No. 1 anymore, he still has a role on the Tigers — a team with MLB's best record, at 37-20, entering Friday. He is a veteran leader behind the scenes, a unifying presence in the clubhouse and a steady backup catcher. The Tigers need Rogers, even if they're not relying on him on the field as often. "We've got a group of guys in the clubhouse that are all in, and when you are that way, any given day, you can be the guy," Hinch said. "When he gets his opportunities, he's the same guy. When he doesn't get opportunities, he's the same guy. That consistency is indicative of a really healthy clubhouse that cares about winning and cares about where we're at." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers puts team first despite backup role
