Perez (back) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The 25-year-old has been dealing with lower-back tightness over the past week but will rejoin the starting nine Saturday after recently receiving a cortisone injection. Perez is expected to start in center or right field Opening Day for the Tigers since Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) will be unavailable to begin the season.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Gets injection, should avoid IL
Rotowire
Perez received a cortisone injection in his back Friday but is expected to be ready for Opening Day, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined for the past week due to lower-back tightness, and he received the cortisone injection after a couple failed attempts to return to game action this week. Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) are poised to miss the start of the season, so Perez should play a significant role for the Tigers to begin the campaign, assuming he can avoid further complications.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Ruled out through Friday
Rotowire
Perez (back) isn't in the Tigers' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Yankees and also isn't listed on their travel roster for Friday's game versus the Pirates, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez hasn't played since March 2 due to lower-back tightness and it would appear his return to action is not imminent. If healthy, the 25-year-old should be in line to play a lot early in the season while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and perhaps Parker Meadows (arm) are out. However, it would seem Perez's own availability for Opening Day is in peril.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Remains out Wednesday
Rotowire
Perez (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The expectation was that Perez would return to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out for over a week due to lower-back tightness. However, the 25-year-old remains out, and it's fair to question at this point whether Perez will have enough time to get ready for the start of the season. Opening Day is just over two weeks away and Perez has logged only 14 at-bats this spring.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: To return to lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Perez (back) will return to the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez last played on March 2, but the lower-back tightness he's dealt with appears to have gone away. The 25-year-old has a good chance to open the season with a regular role for the Tigers while Matt Vierling (shoulder) and possibly Parker Meadows (arm) are sidelined.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Not playing Monday after all
Rotowire
Perez (back) is not in the Tigers' lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez told reporters over the weekend that he would be back in action Monday, but he evidently didn't clear that with the coaching staff. Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday that while Perez is "doing great" as he recovers from a back injury, the outfielder "doesn't get to pick the day" he returns. Hinch added that Perez has "got to pass a few tests" before being re-inserted into the lineup, but it does appear as though the outfielder is trending in the right direction.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Planning to play Monday
Rotowire
Perez (back) plans to play in Monday's spring training game against the Yankees, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
While he has missed close to a week of action with lower-back tightness, Perez is said to be feeling "great." All indications are that he will be back in short order and ready to serve in a utility role come Opening Day.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Battling back tightness
Rotowire
The Tigers announced Friday that Perez is dealing with lower-back tightness but is expected to participate in full baseball activities this weekend, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez hasn't seen the field since Sunday due to the injury, but he appears to be trending in the right direction after taking a few days to rest up. If healthy, the 25-year-old has a strong chance to begin the season with a regular role for the Tigers since Matt Vierling (shoulder) will begin the campaign on the injured list.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Could benefit from Vierling absence
Rotowire
Perez might be the biggest beneficiary of an absence for Matt Vierling (shoulder), who is slated to begin the season on the injured list, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Vierling is out indefinitely with a strained right rotation cuff muscle, and while he was going to see time at multiple positions, the lion's share of his playing time was projected to come in right field. That spot might now go to Perez, who could also see action in center field if Parker Meadows (biceps) needs to miss time. Perez slashed .242/.300/.383 with nine homers and nine steals across 112 regular-season games in 2024.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: May see larger role due to injuries
Rotowire
With Parker Meadows (biceps) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) both banged up in camp, Perez could see more playing time in center field to start the year, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Meadows is simply dealing with some inflammation, so he seemingly should be able to return to start the regular season, though the Tigers may be cautious with him. Vierling, meanwhile, is having his shoulder injury evaluated and more details should emerge in the next few days. Depending on the availability of either player, Perez stands to see more playing time in center field in the early going. The 25-year-old slashed .242/.300/.383 across 112 regular-season games last year during his MLB debut. Perez is also an option to see regular playing time in right field, especially when Meadows and Vierling are healthy and patrolling center.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Idle for Game 4
Rotowire
Perez isn't in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALDS against Cleveland.
Perez has gone 1-for-5 while appearing in two games this series, and he'll move to the bench Thursday as the Tigers look to clinch a spot in the ALCS. Matt Vierling will take over in right field while Zach McKinstry covers the hot corner.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Not in lineup for Game 2
Rotowire
Perez is absent from the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros.
Perez had two hits and scored a run in the Tigers' Game 1 victory, but he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Matt Vierling will get the nod in right field while Zach McKinstry handles third base.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Drives in runs Tuesday
Rotowire
Perez went 1-for-2 with two walks, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Rays.
Perez had the game's key hit, delivering a ground-rule double in the bottom of the fifth inning that plated both Detroit runs. The 24-year-old rookie returned from the injured list on Sept. 12 after missing about a month due to an oblique strain, and he's seemingly settled back in as the team's regular right fielder in the middle of a playoff race. Like many young players, Perez has had some ups and downs during his debut campaign, though he's flashed signs of promise for future seasons.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
The Tigers activated Perez (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Perez missed a little more than a month of action with a strained left oblique but is ready to roll after appearing in seven rehab games with Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers are healthier now than they were before Perez got injured, so he might not be in line for as much playing time as he had been receiving prior to getting hurt.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Starting rehab assignment
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Perez (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Perez has been sidelined since Aug. 10 with a strained left oblique, but he took live batting practice over the weekend without issue to gain clearance to play in rehab games. The young switch-hitter shouldn't need too many rehab at-bats before returning to the Tigers' active roster.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: To take live BP
Rotowire
Perez (oblique) is scheduled to hit in a live batting practice session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Perez suffered a left oblique strain Aug. 10, and it was initially unclear if he'd be able to return in 2024. However, he's now participating in all baseball activities and is closing in on his return. It's unclear if Perez will require a minor-league rehab stint.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Starts running
Rotowire
Perez (oblique) began a running progression Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez has been recovering well from his left oblique strain and began hitting earlier this week prior to running. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 10 and remains a few weeks away from returning.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Perez (oblique) is expected to begin a hitting progression later this week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Perez has been sidelined since early August with a left oblique strain. At the time of the injury, Hinch expressed uncertainty that the rookie could return this season, but the Tigers now seems to have more optimism now that Perez will make it back sometime in September if all goes well during the rehab process.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Could miss rest of season
Rotowire
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged Saturday that Perez is uncertain to play again this season after landing on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. "I'm just bummed for him," Hinch said of Perez. "I don't know how long it's going to be or what we can salvage from the season. We'll do our best to get him healthy and hopefully get him back in some games before the end of the year."
While Detroit hasn't revealed the severity of the left oblique strain Perez suffered in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Giants, the outfielder might be dealing with a Grade 2 or 3 injury, given that the Tigers are anticipating him being out for well beyond the minimum 10 days. Akil Baddoo was called up from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday and will be making his second straight start in the outfield in Sunday's series finale in San Francisco, but Zach McKinstry and Ryan Vilade are also candidates to see more playing time in the corner outfield while Perez is on the shelf. Before suffering the injury, Perez's production had been slowing down lately, but the rookie has still turned in decent fantasy statistics (.242 average, nine home runs, nine stolen bases, 49 runs and 32 RBI) through his first 97 big-league games.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Perez on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain.
Perez had to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to what was labeled as abdominal tightness, but further evaluation confirmed the 24-year-old suffered a strain in his oblique. He'll now be sidelined until at least Aug. 20, and Akil Baddoo will come up from Triple-A Toledo to replenish the Tigers' outfield depth.
