The Detroit Tigers released a Major League medical update Tuesday that included some promising developments for a number of their injured big leaguers.
Most notably, right-handed pitcher Reese Olson is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday at Wrigley Field. It will be Olson's first time throwing off a mound since hitting the injured list with a strained right shoulder in late July.
While this marks a significant step forward in Olson's throwing progression, it will likely still be a while before he begins a minor-league rehab assignment. If all goes well, however, the 25-year-old should be able to make it back to the Tigers' injury-depleted starting rotation at some point in September. Through 19 starts for Detroit prior to his stint on the IL, Olson has a 3.23 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 31 walks in 103 innings.
Casey Mize scheduled to make fourth rehab start, eyeing early September return to Tigers
Another sorely-missed piece of the the Tigers' rotation is right-hander Casey Mize, who landed on the IL with a left hamstring strain in early July. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft could rejoin the club in short order, however, with a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo scheduled for Saturday that could feasibly put him back with the Tigers by the start of September.
Saturday will mark the fourth rehab start for Mize, who has recorded a 1.00 ERA over nine innings in his previous three starts for Toledo while striking out 10 and giving up just seven hits and one earned run. After being transferred to the 60-day IL at the end of July, Mize won't be eligible for activation until Aug. 30, but it appears that he is well on his way to reclaiming a spot in the Tigers' rotation as soon as he is eligible.
One final positive development from the Tigers' medical update is the announcement that rookie outfielder Wenceel Perez is set to begin his hitting progression this week.
Perez has been sidelined since early August with a left oblique strain. At the time of the injury, Tigers manager AJ Hinch expressed uncertainty about the 24-year-old's ability to return this season, but this new development indicates that Perez could theoretically return to the Tigers' lineup sometime in September if all goes well.
That'd help him get some reps in before the offseason so he's on track to build off of his rookie season in 2025.
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