'Grateful' Tigers OF discusses return from injury

The Tigers announced that third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling has been activated from the 10-day injured list.  Shortstop Trey Sweeney was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in the corresponding move, which took place after Detroit’s 4-1 loss to Minnesota last night.

Vierling’s 2025 season has basically been a wash, as he has played in only four games in between two lengthy stints on the IL.  He strained his right rotator cuff in February, which kept him on the shelf until May 23.  That return to the Tigers’ lineup was short-lived, as just five days later, Vierling was placed back on the 10-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation.  Fortunately, an MRI taken earlier this month didn’t reveal any structural damage in the shoulder, and Vierling was able to soon start a minor league rehab assignment that lasted seven games.

“I'm so grateful to be back,” he said Saturday morning, per MLB.com's Jason Beck. “Going back on there again kinda took a toll on me for a couple weeks, so to be able to be back with the boys, I'm just so grateful to be here and realize how lucky we are.

He is now in Saturday’s lineup as the starting center fielder, and looking to start playing a larger role for a Tigers team that has the best record in the American League.  Now in his third season in Motown, Vierling hit .259/.320/.406 with 26 homers over 1097 plate appearances in 2023-24, toggling between third base and all three outfield positions.  Vierling’s right-handed bat is a nice complement to Detroit’s many lefty swingers, giving manager A.J. Hinch some extra flexibility in balancing out his lineup.

"Physically, I'd say I feel way better,” Vierling continued. “I felt pretty ready before after that first IL stint, but I think now I'm more in good shape to withstand more of a toll that the season takes. I think that I've made more high-intensity throws this past IL stint, built myself up even more to handle the throws that it takes. Plus, the pain, soreness and all that have been alleviated. It helps a lot."

Sweeney’s move to Triple-A is notable, as his installation as the Tigers’ starting shortstop last August was one of the many factors that sparked Detroit’s stunning late-season surge into a playoff berth.  Acquired from the Dodgers as part of the Jack Flaherty trade at last year’s deadline, Sweeney didn’t hit much in his first taste of big league action, but strong defense helped solidify the shortstop position since the Tigers had gotten so little from Javier Baez, Zach McKinstry and Ryan Kreidler.

This season, however, Baez has enjoyed a career resurgence and McKinstry has broken out in a multi-positional role.  Since Sweeney is still only hitting .221/.280/.314 over 225 PA and his glovework has fallen off, he’ll head to Toledo as the odd man out of the Tigers’ roster.  Baez and McKinstry figure to fully assume shortstop duties going forward, perhaps in a loose righty-lefty platoon depending on whether or not McKinstry is being utilized elsewhere on the diamond.