Will Parker Meadows’ Return Give Tigers the Midseason Lift They’ve Been Missing?
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Despite still holding a significant lead in the American League Central, it’s hard to say that the Detroit Tigers have been playing well of late.
For most of the first half of the season, the Tigers were the team to beat in the AL. They established a large lead in the division, essentially wrapping up a playoff spot before the All-Star break.
Since then, things have gone a bit south for Detroit. Coming out of the break, they lost eight of nine games. They made a few additions at the trade deadline but didn’t make a splash that many were hoping for.
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While this is still a playoff team and could achieve some great things this year, there is reason for concern.
The starting rotation has been hit hard by injuries, and their bullpen has been in the middle of the pack. Furthermore, the lineup has also come back down to earth a little bit. However, the team is hopeful that a returning player can be the spark that they need.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN recently wrote about Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows being a player who could give them a boost down the stretch.
“As the Tigers march toward their first division title in 11 years and vie for a first-round bye, they find themselves longing for Meadows in several ways. The hope is that he'll be a much better hitter than he showed earlier this season.”
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Even though there is no exact timetable for when he might return, the hope is that Meadows will be back by the end of August.
Will Meadows Provide a Spark?
It has been a frustrating campaign for the talented slugger, who has been on the injured list for a significant amount of time twice already. So far this campaign, he has slashed .200/.270/.296 with two home runs and nine RBI.
Those numbers certainly aren’t great, but they can be attributed to him missing so much time. In 2024, he was a key contributor in the playoff run. Last season, he slashed .244/.310/.433 with nine home runs and 28 RBI.
What might arguably be the best part of Meadows’ game is his ability to play excellent defense in the outfield. Being able to save runs while having the power to be an above-average slugger in the Majors is a great combination, and the Tigers have missed him.
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With signs of a rehab assignment coming soon, Detroit is likely going to be optimistic about a potential return at the end of the month.
Injuries have been an issue for Meadows, but he could provide a significant boost if he can stay healthy for the stretch run.
For more Tigers news, head over to Tigers On SI.
Nick Ziegler is an alumnus of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. He has been working in sports media covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL for nearly a decade with various publications online. With his free time, Nick enjoys being at the Jersey Shore with his wife, daughter, and their golden retriever. You can follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @NickZiegler20.