Tigers Injury Updates: Javy Báez setback, forgotten player's rehab, Jackson Jobe bullpen

Last week, AJ Hinch told reporters that Javy Báez was being shut down from baseball activities and would see a specialist about his ankle, which he sprained on April 28 after attempting to slide into first base. The injury "had not progressed as hoped."

On Tuesday, the Tigers officially updated their medical report to reflect that Báez was no longer ramping up, rather "completing rehab daily," which is the Tigers' preferred way of saying that there's nothing new to report.

According to Hinch, Báez is dealing with a high sprain. The specialist still didn't find fractures or breaks but recommended rest anyway, as it wasn't responding to treatment.

"Javy is going to need some time off," Hinch said. "He's just not progressing very quickly, and right now rest is still part of the equation."

Now that Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter have come off the IL and immediately rejuvenated the Tigers' offense, fans are feeling far less desperate to get Báez back in a hurry. Now that his rehab clock has been all but reset, we wouldn't be surprised if we don't see him back on the field until closer to the All-Star break.

Tigers Injury Updates: Lefty pitcher Jake Miller begins rehab assignment in Single-A

In November, the Tigers selected five players to their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft: Thayron Liranzo, Hao-Yu Lee, Jake Miller, Trei Cruz, and Eduardo Valencia. It's been easy to forget about almost everyone but Lee who, of course, spent some time with the major league club this year, but a few others could factor in this season.

Miller is Detroit's No. 14 prospect, but his minor league career has already been shortened by injuries. He spent most of the 2025 season on the IL and started 2026 the same way despite a few tries at rehab assignments toward the end of last year.

Now, he's back in a rehab assignment for the first time this season, and he pitched two scoreless innings on Tuesday for Single-A Lakeland.

Tigers Injury Updates: Jackson Jobe throws bullpen session in front of major league coaches

Before the Tigers' second game against the Rays at Tropicana Field, former No. 1 prospect Jackson Jobe was spotted on the field throwing a bullpen session in front of Tigers coaches in a rare appearance since undergoing Tommy John last year.

Jobe still isn't close to a return, but he shuttled up from Lakeland, where he's been doing most of his rehab, to give the team an up-close-and-personal progress report.

The Tigers still seem optimistic they'll get Jobe back in late summer, as his progression coming off of Tommy John has been unusually uncomplicated. Depending on how Detroit's trade deadline pans out, Jobe's return could be a saving grace for the rotation.

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