Tigers Announce Kerry Carpenter Update After Loss to Royals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jul 26, 2026 5:20 PM ET

The Detroit Tigers are doing everything in their power to convince ownership not to sell the roster at this year's trade deadline. Despite Sunday's loss against the Kansas City Royals, Detroit has been one of the better teams in the American League since the month of June, although it may be too late given they sit six games under .500.

There are plenty of underperforming players for Detroit this year, and one of them is right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Now in his fifth season in Detroit, the 28-year-old left-handed slugger is in the midst of the worst season of his career.

Across 80 games, Carpenter has posted a .210 batting average, .278 on-base percentage, .698 OPS, 13 home runs and 36 RBIs. He has not been the middle-of-the-order presence he was the last two seasons when he helped Detroit make back-to-back trips to the postseason.

Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

In Carpenter's defense, he has been battling through injuries this year while trying to help Detroit climb out of its hole, including a right heel contusion he has been playing through. Unfortunately, that same issue resurfaced during Sunday's game against the Royals.

Carpenter made just two trips to the plate before manager A.J. Hinch decided to remove him from the game in the top of the fifth inning. Backup outfielder Ben Malgeri entered in his place.

After the game, the Tigers confirmed that Carpenter's right heel injury flared up again and that he would be undergoing additional testing to determine the severity of the issue, according to Tigers reporter Evan Woodberry.

It was his heel. Carpenter is being evaluated.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) July 26, 2026

If Carpenter lands on the 10-day injured list it would mark his second stint there this year. He previously missed nearly a month of action recovering from a left AC joint sprain earlier in the season.

Further updates on his condition will continue to be monitored as they become available. Detroit opens a series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, and it is still unclear whether Carpenter will be available for the start of that series.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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