Detroit Tigers infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is hitting batting practice, completing defensive drills and doing conditioning on a daily basis and has also been cleared to start a return to play throwing program, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. A right-shoulder strain that Vierling suffered in spring training landed him on the injured list to begin the 2025 regular season, but he's making good progress and may be able to return to make his season debut at the end of April, barring any setbacks. However, with no timetable and the fact that he still needs to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, it's probably more likely we won't see him back in Detroit until early May. Given all of the injuries to Detroit's outfielders, Vierling will probably be in line for everyday playing time in the outfield when he's ready to return.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is not yet throwing, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Stavenhagen notes that Vierling is hitting BP, conditioning, and running defensive drills daily but has yet to progress to throwing. This spring, Vierling was limited to just two at-bats after falling victim to a rotator cuff strain. The Tigers are short-staffed in the outfield right now, with teammates Parker Meadows (arm), Wenceel Perez (back), and Akil Baddoo (wrist) all dinged up with their respective injuries. Vierling was expected to rejoin the team by the end of April, which remains a possibility. However, he still has a few milestones to check off before he returns to in-game action. The 28-year-old will undergo an MRI in the coming days to check the status of his shoulder.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) has progressed to hitting soft toss in the batting cage. It's worth noting that Vierling is also doing defensive drills and conditioning daily. It's a step in the right direction for Vierling who is working his way back from a shoulder strain. The organization is hopeful to get Vierling back by the end of April. That would be great for the Tigers who are quickly running out of options in the outfield due to injuries. The Tigers are already without Wenceel Perez (back) and Parker Meadows (arm) to begin the season.
Detroit Tigers outfielders Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) are still not throwing as they work their way back to try and re-join the Tigers lineup. Meadows was shut down after just one Spring Training game with a nerve issue, and Manager A.J. Hinch said Meadows is making steps in his recovery but also confirmed last Friday that Meadows will begin the season on the injured list. The Tigers plan to have Wenceel Perez step in as the primary center fielded while Meadows is out, and Riley Greene could slide to center at times as well. Vierling also played just one game this Spring Training before being sidelined by a rotator cuff strain and will begin the season on the injured list, opening playing time for Justyn-Henry Malloy and Andy Ibanez.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is going to be sidelined to begin the 2025 season. Vierling is dealing with a rotator cuff strain, so it's unclear how long he's going to be out right now. This is a tough break for the Tigers given Vierling slashed .257/.312/.423 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI across 144 games in Detroit last season. He is also a solid defender that earned himself a 3.0 WAR in 2024. Now, the Tigers will look at alternative options such as Justyn-Henry Malloy or Weencel Perez. Neither is an ideal fantasy option, but Perez was better than Malloy with the bat last season.
Detroit Tigers infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is getting his right shoulder evaluated in camp and hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game since last Saturday. The severity of Vierling's shoulder injury is unclear at the moment, but we should get an update on the 28-year-old's condition soon and whether he'll have to miss more time in camp. If it's a serious injury, it will make a big impact on Detroit's lineup to open the 2025 season, as Vierling is projected to be a regular between third base and the outfield. The biggest beneficiary if Vierling were to miss any time would be Jace Jung at the hot corner. Vierling had his best fantasy showing in 2024 in his second year in the Motor City with a .257/.312/.423 slash line, 16 home runs, 57 RBI, six stolen bases and 80 runs scored in 144 regular-season games. However, he doesn't excel anywhere offensively and is more of a real-life asset for the Tigers because of his defensive versatility.
Matt Vierling Expected To See Time At Third Base And Outfield
According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Detroit Tigers third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling is expected to see time at both third base and outfield during the 2025 campaign. Beck noted that the team has been linked to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, but given their current roster, Vierling and Jace Jung will share time at the hot corner. When Vierling is not in the infield, he will likely see time in the outfield, both in center and right. However, if Bregman agrees to terms with Detroit, Vierling will become a full-time outfielder. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .257/.312/.423 slash line with 16 home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a .256 xBA with a modest 40.9 percent hard-hit rate and a 7.5 percent barrel rate, which were both slightly below the average marks. Given Detroit's current roster, Vierling should see close to everyday at-bats and is a viable depth outfielder in deeper fantasy formats.
Detroit Tigers outfielder/infielder Matt Vierling and rookie shortstop Trey Sweeney are both out for Saturday's contest at Comerica Park against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. The Tigers are resting a few players after clinching their first postseason berth on Friday in 10 seasons. Rookie Jace Jung is making the start at third base for Detroit and batting seventh, while Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop and hitting eighth against White Sox right-hander Sean Burke. Vierling, 28, has been a lineup mainstay for the Tigers in his second year with the team in 2024 and has been a big reason for their success this year. He enters Saturday's contest hitting .258 (133-for-515) with a career-high 16 homers, a career-high 57 RBI and six steals in 143 games played. Jung is still searching for his first MLB homer and has gone 19-for-77 (.247) with three RBI and 29 K's in his first 32 games in 2024 with Detroit.
Detroit Tigers rookie infielder Jace Jung and infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling are both on the bench for Tuesday's contest at Comerica Park versus the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Ryan Pepiot. Jung has lost serious playing time of late, as he hasn't started in seven of the team's last 10 games. The younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung has struggled at the plate in his first 31 big-league games this year, going 19-for-76 (.250) with no homers, five doubles, three RBI, 13 walks and 28 strikeouts in 89 plate appearances. Zach McKinstry is starting at third and batting seventh, while Parker Meadows is in center field and hitting leadoff against Pepiot. In just five career at-bats against Pepiot, Meadows has a homer and an RBI. McKinstry has yet to face Pepiot in his career. Vierling has hit .238 (15-for-63) with a homer, two doubles and six RBI in 19 games in September.
Detroit Tigers infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling is getting a day off on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies at Comerica Park. With Vierling starting on the bench, Zach McKinstry will start in right field for the Tigers and will bat seventh against Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner. McKinstry has faced Feltner three times in his career and has gone hitless. Vierling has seen regular playing time the last two seasons while in Detroit with a rebuilding franchise. In 129 games so far in 2024, he's hitting .261/.308/.438 with a .746 OPS, career-high 16 home runs, career-high 54 RBI and five steals in 513 plate appearances. He's currently riding a modest four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 5-for-14 with a double and three RBI. McKinstry brings little upside as a deep DFS sleeper near the bottom of Detroit's batting order. The 29-year-old has a .226 average with four homers, 22 RBI and 14 steals in 270 at-bats.
Matt Vierling
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Tigers
