Detroit Tigers Working Towards Return From Injury For Multiple Key Pieces, Including Riley Greene
While the news of Matthew Boyd getting Tommy John surgery this week was devastating, the Detroit Tigers are getting lots of good news on the health front lately.
The team brought back Matt Manning this week from the injured list, announced that Casey Mize is throwing bullpens again, and got good news on a trio of key players.
First, on young superstar Riley Greene, the following update comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:
Greene (fibula) is headed to Triple-A Toledo where he will begin a rehab assignment in the near future, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
When exactly that rehab assignment will start isn't clear yet, although Akil Baddoo (quad) is also joining Toledo and is thought to be ahead of Greene timeline-wise. It shouldn't be long before Greene is game-ready, although a return before the end of the first half might be a push. He's missed all of June with a stress fracture in his left fibula.
Greene is one of the centerpieces of the Tigers rebuild and has enjoyed a breakout season this year. The 22-year-old and former No. 5 overall pick in the draft is hitting .296 with five home runs, 18 RBI and six stolen bases. Getting him back would be instrumental.
He made his major league debut in 2022 and is a lifetime .268 hitter with 10 home runs. He and Spencer Torkelson make up the future position player core of the organization.
-Now, with regards to outfielder Akil Baddoo:
Baddoo (quad) is headed to join Triple-A Toledo and will begin a rehab assignment there soon, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Baddoo will continue with his workouts for now with Toledo but is expected to be game-ready shortly. The outfielder has been sidelined since early June with a right quad strain but looks to have a good shot to make it back prior to the All-Star break.
He's hitting .231 this season with three homers and 16 RBI. He's a lifetime .239 hitter.
-And on lefty pitcher Tarik Skubal...
Skubal (elbow) is expected to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next start with the Tigers, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Skubal has been electric on his rehab assignment, holding a 1.23 ERA and 20:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings covering five starts between High-A West Michigan and Triple-A Toledo. He will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, and if he gets through it with no issues, he could make his season debut with the big club as soon as Tuesday at home versus the Athletics. The upcoming start would be his first in the majors since he underwent season-ending flexor tendon surgery last August. Skubal didn't work more than four frames in any rehab start, so he will likely be limited from a workload perspective initially.
Skubal is a lifetime 16-24 pitcher with a 4.15 ERA in 60 career games. He went 7-8 in 2022 in 21 starts, striking out 117 in 117.2 innings.
The Tigers are currently tied with the Texas Rangers, 0-0, in the first inning. Detroit is 34-45 on the season and entered play 5.0 games back in the American League Central.
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