Tigers hit with another problematic injury as Javy Báez nears return

Emma Lingan

Detroit Tigers right fielder Matt Vierling (8) exits the field after a strikeout in the ninth inning of 5-4 loss to Cleveland Guardians at Game 4 of ALDS at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers received some bad news on the injury front Thursday, as manager A.J. Hinch announced that utility man Matt Vierling had suffered a right shoulder injury.

According to a report from Evan Woodberry of MLive.com, the extent of Vierling's injury is still being evaluated, and the club will provide an update on Friday's injury report. Vierling has not seen any Grapefruit League action since Saturday's spring opener, a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The news of Vierling's injury is a tough blow to the Tigers, who will have to hope that it isn't serious enough to sideline him for an extended period of time. While he isn't one of the Tigers' most powerful offensive weapons, Vierling is widely seen as a key to the club's success in 2025. In addition to being one of Detroit's primary options to man third base after the Tigers missed out on Alex Bregman in free agency, he can also play all three outfield positions.

After the departure of Gio Urshela last year, the Tigers deployed a platoon of Vierling and 24-year-old rookie Jace Jung at third. It was assumed after the club failed to sign Bregman that the same duo would once again split time at the hot corner in 2025, though it was still unclear whether one would be taking on a larger share of the innings.

There were lingering questions about Jung's ability to be an everyday third baseman – which is to be expected, considering his age and relative lack of Major League experience – leading to speculation that he could start the 2025 season in Triple-A Toledo to get more time to develop. But if Vierling's injury turns out to be something that keeps him out long term, it looks like Jung is all but guaranteed to be Detroit's Opening Day third baseman.

Tigers hit with Matt Vierling injury as Javy Báez nears return

Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press also reported that Tigers shortstop Javy Báez is scheduled to make his spring training debut Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Báez will DH for the Tigers in Friday's contest, but the club hopes to have him playing in the field by next week.

Báez underwent season-ending hip surgery last August and is continuing to work his way back to full strength. His offensive production has been abysmal with the Tigers, though injuries to his hip and back may have played a role in his struggles at the plate.

Trey Sweeney was called up for his MLB debut in mid-August to take over shortstop duties down the final stretch and into the postseason, posting a higher bWAR (0.7) in 36 games than Báez did (minus-1.1) in 80. Still, if Báez is back to full health and has a strong spring, he will likely be a starter again in 2025.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.