Tigers take depth hit with loss of outfielder

Akil Baddoo left Friday’s game after injuring his right quad while running out a grounder.  The quad strain ended up sending Baddoo to the 10-day injured list, with the Detroit Tigers placing the outfielder on the IL on Saturday. In a corresponding move, the newly-acquired Nick Solak was called up from Triple-A.

It isn’t clear how much time Baddoo might miss, since Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press) that while Baddoo will be “out for the foreseeable future,” the quad strain is also on the “mild side.”  It’s at least good news that Baddoo has apparently avoided a higher degree of strain, even if the injured list stint represents a setback for the 24-year-old outfielder.

A Rule 5 pick in December 2020, Baddoo had a very impressive rookie season and seemed to be a surprise building block for a Tigers club that appeared to be turning a corner in 2021. Like virtually every other Detroit hitter, though, Baddoo took a big step backwards in 2022, when he hit only .204/.289/.269 over 225 plate appearances.  The 2023 campaign has continued this inconsistency for Baddoo, but he has taken a step forward from last season, slashing .231/.341/.343 over his first 168 PA.

The surprising Zach McKinstry has moved into everyday duty in the Tigers’ outfield, which has been a bit of a revolving door this season due to injuries.  Austin Meadows has been sidelined since April because of anxiety issues, while Riley Greene is facing an extended absence due to a stress reaction in his left fibula.  On the plus side, Kerry Carpenter was activated off the IL earlier in the week and Matt Vierling may return as soon as Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

Initially, lower-back soreness sent Vierling to the injured list on May 29, but it looks like he could end up missing only slightly beyond the minimum 10 days.  Vierling has already played two minor league rehab games and was in Detroit, where he was evaluated by team doctors, on Sunday.  Acquired from the Phillies as part of the Gregory Soto trade back in January, Vierling has hit .241/.297/.352 over 175 PA while playing mostly in right field this season, but he has also gotten some work at the other two outfield slots and even at second and third base.

In other injury news, the Tigers announced that Matt Manning will start an injury rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Toledo.  It was exactly two months ago that Manning suffered a fracture in his right foot. He has since been transferred to the 60-day IL, though that roster move doesn’t impact his potential return date.  Manning will certainly need at least a couple of rehab starts after missing so much time, but it seems plausible that he could return to Detroit’s rotation before the end of June.