Tigers' Matt Vierling: Plays outfield in rehab game
Rotowire
Vierling (shoulder) played six innings in right field and went 0-for-3 in his rehab game with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.
Though he made his fifth rehab appearance for Toledo on Sunday, Vierling played defense for the first time after going 3-for-10 with a pair of home runs, a double and five walks as a designated hitter through his first four games. Since Vierling is likely to see most of his playing time in center field or at third base once he returns from the 10-day injured list, the Tigers will likely want him to remain with Toledo this week to gain more exposure to both positions prior to activating him. If all goes well, Vierling could come off the IL early next week, according to MLB.com. Vierling has been on the shelf all season due to the right rotator cuff strain he suffered early in spring training.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Starting rehab assignment Sunday
Rotowire
Vierling (shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Emily Waldon of Baseball America reports.
Vierling is in the final stages of his recovery from a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder, which caused him to start the season on the 10-day injured list. He will embark on his rehab assignment Sunday and will initially serve as the designated hitter before seeing reps in the outfield. Vierling finished the 2024 regular season with Detroit slashing .257/.312/.423 with six stolen bases, 16 home runs and 57 RBI over 567 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Nearing rehab assignment
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio that Vierling (shoulder) should begin a rehab assignment "pretty soon," Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Hinch noted that Vierling could be used only at designated hitter initially on his rehab assignment as he continues to get his arm back into shape. Vierling resumed throwing in early April as he comes back from a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder and has been hitting and playing defense since late March. The 28-year-old hasn't played in a game since late February, so he figures to require a good number of rehab at-bats before being activated from the 10-day injured list.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Ready to resume throwing
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Vierling (shoulder) has been cleared to start a return-to-play throwing program, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Vierling had already been taking live batting practice and getting in some defensive work, but his ability to resume throwing represents an important step in his recovery from a right shoulder strain, an injury he suffered early in spring training. The Tigers aren't yet offering up a target date for Vierling to make his season debut, but he's likely to gradually increase his throwing distance and volume over the next week or two before the team maps out a minor-league rehab assignment for him. With that in mind a late-April or early-May return from the 10-day injured list may be a best-case scenario for Vierling, who should handle a near-everyday role either in the outfield or at third base once he's deemed fully healthy.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Not yet throwing
Rotowire
Vierling (shoulder) said Friday that he has yet to start up a throwing program, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old resumed hitting a couple weeks ago and is taking part in defensive drills, but he apparently needs to strengthen his shoulder a bit more before he can begin full baseball activities. According to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, Vierling will undergo an MRI within the next week, presumably to check the progress of the strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Sent to injured list
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Vierling (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Vierling was cleared to resume hitting and perform shoulder strengthening exercises Friday as the latest step in his rehab from a right rotator cuff strain. He still has a few more boxes to check before he can hope to begin a rehab assignment, but the door is still open for him to return to Detroit before May.
Vierling (shoulder) began a hitting progression this week and was cleared Friday to advance his shoulder strengthening exercises, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 28-year-old resumed light baseball activities in early March after being shut down due to a strained rotator cuff early in camp, and he's now ramping up his rehab work. Vierling will begin the season on the injured list but could make his season debut sometime in April.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Not yet cleared for throwing
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Vierling (shoulder) has been cleared for conditioning work and defensive drills, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Both Vierling and Parker Meadows seem to be at similar spots in their respective recoveries from arm injuries, as the latter has also been cleared for all activity except for throwing and hitting. Until Vierling is able to start playing catch and begin a hitting progression, it may be difficult to project when he'll be ready to make his season debut as he works his way back from a right rotator cuff strain. Once healthy, Vierling should handle a near-everyday role at third base or in the corner outfield.
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Doing light baseball activities
Rotowire
Vierling (shoulder) has begun light, modified baseball activities, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
It's not much, but Vierling being able to do anything one week after being diagnosed with a strained right rotator cuff muscle provides some optimism. Vierling won't be ready for Opening Day, and it's not yet clear how much time he might miss.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Vierling is dealing with a strained right rotator cuff muscle and will not be ready for Opening Day, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Vierling has been held out of action for nearly a week already and will continue to rest before being re-evaluated. As a result, playing time could open up for Wenceel Perez in right field and Andy Ibanez at third base, where Vierling had been likely to serve on the short side of a platoon with Jace Jung.
... See More... See Less
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Getting shoulder evaluated
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Vierling is recovering from a right shoulder injury, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Vierling hasn't played since Sunday, though it's unclear if he suffered the injury in the Tigers' Grapefruit League game that day or if he had been nursing the shoulder injury heading into the contest. The Tigers are expected to provide more details on Vierling's injury Friday. Vierling is expected to be a regular for the Tigers this season, with most of his playing time likely to come between right field and third base.
With free agent Alex Bregman passing up the Tigers to sign with the Red Sox, Vierling should have a clearer path to regular starts at third base, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
If Bregman had joined Detroit, he likely would have played most days at the hot corner, pushing Vierling to a bench role. However, Vierling should now slot in as a primary option at third, though left-hand hitting Jace Jung figures to be in the mix too. On days when Jung enters the lineup, Vierling could slide to the outfield. This makes the veteran's 2025 fantasy outlook similar to 2024, when he slashed .257/.312/.423 with 16 home runs across 144 regular-season games.
0:25
0:56
8:57
1:59
8:58
8:57
11:03
1:16
1:43
8:45
0:24
9:30
9:44
2:51
10:27
0:57
9:26
9:08
8:53
8:27
