The message from Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has shifted regarding second baseman Gleyber Torres in his return from a left oblique strain.
It only took 24 hours.
“Hopefully, we can evaluate him to get out on a rehab assignment soon,” Hinch said Monday, May 18, before the opener of a four-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. “I don’t know if that means tomorrow or the next day. We’ll see how his work goes today.”
The latest update?
“We’d love that, but he’s not ready,” Hinch said before Tuesday’s game.
The 29-year-old has been on the 10-day injured list since May 6, retroactive to May 4, with a left oblique strain. He hasn’t played for the Tigers since May 2, which is when he exited before the fourth inning.
It was diagnosed as a mild strain.
Torres completed on-field drills before Tuesday’s game, including ground balls and light hitting, but the Tigers didn’t send him to Triple-A Toledo for a rehab assignment.
“We’re still day-to-day,” Hinch said. “We don’t have a definite plan.”
Before the injury, Torres hit .259 with two home runs, 25 walks and 22 strikeouts across 32 games, posting a .716 OPS.
Torres ranks as the Tigers’ fourth-best position player at 0.5 fWAR, trailing infielder Kevin McGonigle (1.9 fWAR), catcher Dillon Dingler (1.7 fWAR) and left fielder Riley Greene (1.7 fWAR).
Kerry Carpenter injury update
Designated hitter Kerry Carpenter – the Tigers’ best slugger against right-handed pitchers – has been on the 10-day injured list since May 10 with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder.
He is getting closer to a rehab assignment.
The 28-year-old completed on-field drills both Monday and Tuesday under the instruction of bench coach George Lombard, who also works as the outfield and baserunning coach.
“He has increased his activity,” Hinch said before Monday’s game. “He’s doing a ton of work now. He’s been cleared to start doing more and more baseball activities.”
Carpenter suffered the injury in right field when he hit a wall while misplaying a ball in foul territory May 9 against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Before that, he hit .216 with six home runs, 11 walks and 40 strikeouts over 37 games, registering a .750 OPS.
“Range of motion is good,” Hinch said.
Troy Melton injury update
Right-hander Troy Melton is eligible to return to the Tigers from the 60-day injured list for Sunday’s finale of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined since spring training with a right elbow strain.
Melton is scheduled to make what could be the final start of his rehab assignment Tuesday for Low-A Lakeland – only because there are weather concerns in Triple-A Toledo.
“We’d like to get his pitch count up a little bit,” Hinch said. “The tricky part in A-ball is there’s no guarantee. When you get a guy who has experience who throws strikes, there’s a chance for early-count outs, but I would take early count outs over a 30-pitch inning.”
Melton hasn’t thrown more than 54 pitches (and three innings) during his rehab assignment, spanning three starts. He made his first two starts in Low-A, then advanced to Triple-A for his third start.
It’s unclear if Melton will join the Tigers as the starter for Sunday’s game when he becomes eligible to return, but he would be lined up to pitch that day.
The Tigers can keep him on a rehab assignment until June 2.
“In perfect world, we’ll get him into four or five ups, 65 to 70 pitches,” Hinch said. “It’s just hard to guarantee that at a few levels below where he usually pitches. Volume and quality would be the ideal circumstances.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury updates: Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter