Tigers' Wenceel Perez: On track for rehab games this week
Rotowire
Perez (back) said Monday that he's scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with High-A West Michigan on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Perez's rehab assignment will be contingent on him getting through his increased baseball activities early in the week without any hiccups. The 25-year-old has been out all season while recovering from lumbar spine inflammation and won't be eligible for activation until late May.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Taking part in activities
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Perez (spine) was spotted playing catch Monday with rehabbing teammate Parker Meadows (upper arm), Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Both players reside on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible to make their season debuts until late May, but Meadows may be slightly ahead of Perez in their respective rehab programs. In addition to doing some throwing, Perez has been able to do some bunting work, but he's not yet been cleared to take full swings, according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. The Tigers have yet to provide word when Perez might be ready to head out on what could be an extended minor-league rehab assignment.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Yet to resume baseball activities
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Perez (back) has yet to resume baseball activities, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Perez is still in the recovery process after being given a pair of cortisone shots to combat lumbar spine inflammation. He's already been moved to the 60-day injured list, and it's not clear when he'll be ready to begin baseball activities.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Tigers transferred Perez (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for catcher Tomas Nido, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Toledo. As a result of the move, Perez won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut with the Tigers until late May while he recovers from lumbar spine inflammation. He recently received a second cortisone injection in his back and has yet to resume baseball activities.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Gets another cortisone injection
Rotowire
Perez (back) was given the second of two scheduled cortisone injections Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Perez is recovering from lumbar spine inflammation and it's not clear when he will be ready to resume baseball activities. The outfielder is not expected back until sometime in May.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Moved to 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Perez (back) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Perez spent most of spring training rehabbing his lower-back inflammation. Most recently, he received an injection in his back and has already been ruled out for at least another month by president of baseball operations Scott Harris. With Matt Vierling (shoulder) also out, Ryan Kreidler is the favorite to start in center field to begin Detroit's season.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Out one month with back injury
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Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday that Perez is scheduled to receive an injection in his lower back this week and will be sidelined for at least a month, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
He joins Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) on the shelf, as the Tigers' outfield depth will really be tested early on in the season. Recently signed Manuel Margot is a new option for Detroit and the club has also brought back Ryan Kreidler from minor-league camp.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Back in action Saturday
Rotowire
Perez (back) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The 25-year-old has been dealing with lower-back tightness over the past week but will rejoin the starting nine Saturday after recently receiving a cortisone injection. Perez is expected to start in center or right field Opening Day for the Tigers since Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) will be unavailable to begin the season.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Gets injection, should avoid IL
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Perez received a cortisone injection in his back Friday but is expected to be ready for Opening Day, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined for the past week due to lower-back tightness, and he received the cortisone injection after a couple failed attempts to return to game action this week. Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) are poised to miss the start of the season, so Perez should play a significant role for the Tigers to begin the campaign, assuming he can avoid further complications.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Ruled out through Friday
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Perez (back) isn't in the Tigers' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Yankees and also isn't listed on their travel roster for Friday's game versus the Pirates, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez hasn't played since March 2 due to lower-back tightness and it would appear his return to action is not imminent. If healthy, the 25-year-old should be in line to play a lot early in the season while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and perhaps Parker Meadows (arm) are out. However, it would seem Perez's own availability for Opening Day is in peril.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Remains out Wednesday
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Perez (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The expectation was that Perez would return to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out for over a week due to lower-back tightness. However, the 25-year-old remains out, and it's fair to question at this point whether Perez will have enough time to get ready for the start of the season. Opening Day is just over two weeks away and Perez has logged only 14 at-bats this spring.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: To return to lineup Wednesday
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Perez (back) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez last played on March 2, but the lower-back tightness he's dealt with appears to have gone away. The 25-year-old has a good chance to open the season with a regular role for the Tigers while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and possibly Parker Meadows (arm) are sidelined.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Not playing Monday after all
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Perez (back) is not in the Tigers' lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez told reporters over the weekend that he would be back in action Monday, but he evidently didn't clear that with the coaching staff. Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that while Perez is "doing great" as he recovers from a back injury, the outfielder "doesn't get to pick the day" he returns. Hinch added that Perez has "got to pass a few tests" before being re-inserted into the lineup, but it does appear as though the outfielder is trending in the right direction.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Planning to play Monday
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Perez (back) plans to play in Monday's spring training game against the Yankees, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
While he has missed close to a week of action with lower-back tightness, Perez is said to be feeling "great." All indications are that he will be back in short order and ready to serve in a utility role come Opening Day.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Battling back tightness
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Friday that Perez is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to participate in full baseball activities this weekend, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez hasn't seen the field since Sunday due to the injury, but he appears to be trending in the right direction after taking a few days to rest up. If healthy, the 25-year-old has a strong chance to begin the season with a regular role for the Tigers since Matt Vierling (shoulder) will begin the campaign on the injured list.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Could benefit from Vierling absence
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Perez might be the biggest beneficiary of an absence for Matt Vierling (shoulder), who is slated to begin the season on the injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Vierling is out indefinitely with a strained right rotation cuff muscle, and while he was going to see time at multiple positions, the lion's share of his playing time was projected to come in right field. That spot might now go to Perez, who could also see action in center field if Parker Meadows (biceps) needs to miss time. Perez slashed .242/.300/.383 with nine homers and nine steals across 112 regular-season games in 2024.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: May see larger role due to injuries
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With Parker Meadows (biceps) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both banged up in camp, Perez could see more playing time in center field to start the year, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Meadows is simply dealing with some inflammation, so he seemingly should be able to return to start the regular season, though the Tigers may be cautious with him. Vierling, meanwhile, is having his shoulder injury evaluated and more details should emerge in the next few days. Depending on the availability of either player, Perez stands to see more playing time in center field in the early going. The 25-year-old slashed .242/.300/.383 across 112 regular-season games last year during his MLB debut. Perez is also an option to see regular playing time in right field, especially when Meadows and Vierling are healthy and patrolling center.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Idle for Game 4
Rotowire
Perez isn't in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland.
Perez has gone 1-for-5 while appearing in two games this series, and he'll move to the bench Thursday as the Tigers look to clinch a spot in the ALCS. Matt Vierling will take over in right field while Zach McKinstry covers the hot corner.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Not in lineup for Game 2
Rotowire
Perez is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros.
Perez had two hits and scored a run in the Tigers' Game 1 victory, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Matt Vierling will get the nod in right field while Zach McKinstry handles third base.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Drives in runs Tuesday
Rotowire
Perez went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Rays.
Perez had the game's key hit, delivering a ground-rule double in the bottom of the fifth inning that plated both Detroit runs. The 24-year-old rookie returned from the injured list on Sept. 12 after missing about a month due to an oblique strain, and he's seemingly settled back in as the team's regular right fielder in the middle of a playoff race. Like many young players, Perez has had some ups and downs during his debut campaign, though he's flashed signs of promise for future seasons.
