Matt Vierling provides update on his injury status and eventual return to Tigers

Matt Vierling played in a grand total of four games after coming off the IL with shoulder inflammation, only to go right back onto it for the same issue. It initially started bothering him during spring training, which forced him to start the season on the IL alongside Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez, which gutted the Tigers' outfield depth.

Vierling, Meadows, and Pérez all came back within days of each other after long rehabs, but while Meadows and Pérez have already gotten into a rhythm and contributed on both sides of the ball, Vierling is right back where he started.

His second stint on the 10-day IL started on May 27, so he's technically already eligible to come back. However, the Tigers have absolutely no reason to rush him back with Meadows posted up in center field on most days and with Vierling's injury being worryingly recurrent.

However, Vierling got some good news from Dr. Keith Meister this week, who said that Vierling's latest MRI was clear of structural damage. "Absolutely the best-case scenario," Vierling said. "I was nervous it might be something more serious, but the MRI showed that everything was fine structurally….I will start throwing [Sunday] and build up from there. There is no exact timeline but hopefully sooner than later."

Matt Vierling gets 'absolutely the best-case scenario' news on shoulder inflammation from Tigers doctor

If Vierling has to complete another rehab assignment, it's unclear how long he'll take to build back up. What we do know is that his first stint lasted about three weeks. It's still reassuring, however, that he won't be losing the entire season due to surgery.

In the meantime, the Tigers have to continue being creative with third base, but that's hardly new territory for them. Javier Báez and Zach McKinstry have been there most since Meadows' return and Andy Ibáñez's demotion, and Colt Keith is expected to play there more often. If Trey Sweeney continues to slump and is given the Jace Jung treatment, Báez could slide back to shortstop full-time and let McKinstry and Keith operate in a tandem at third.

The Tigers' depth and positional versatility has become a key to their success this season, maybe even a slightly underrated one. They'll be fine without Vierling for the time being, but getting him back will certainly add some extra reassurance and get a veteran leader back into the clubhouse.