Detroit Tigers Update: Reese Olson and Wenceel Pérez Making Their Comeback
The Detroit Tigers have some exciting news for their fans—right-hander Reese Olson is back on the mound after a lengthy hiatus. Olson, who last pitched on July 20, recently kicked off his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. On Thursday, he faced off against the Indianapolis Indians, the Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate, and delivered a promising performance.
In his first rehab outing, Olson was sharp. He tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and issuing one walk, while striking out one batter. His fastball sizzled at an average speed of 95.1 mph, showing that his velocity is still in top form.
The 25-year-old hurler had been sidelined for nearly seven weeks due to a right shoulder strain, but he’s clearly on the mend. However, his journey back to full strength might involve several more rehab starts with Toledo. Even once he reclaims his spot on the Tigers' roster, it’s likely his workload will be carefully monitored through the end of September. Olson’s pitch count saw a significant increase from 20 pitches in Saturday's live batting practice session at Comerica Park to 39 in Thursday's start at Fifth Third Field.
Before his injury, Olson was a standout performer. He had accumulated a solid 3.23 ERA with 31 walks and 92 strikeouts over 103 innings in 19 starts. His early-season form was especially impressive, boasting a 1.92 ERA in his first 10 starts. In his two-year MLB career, Olson has maintained a respectable 3.61 ERA across 40 games (37 starts).
With Olson’s return on the horizon, the Tigers’ rotation is set to feature four starters for the first time in a long time. Alongside Olson, the Tigers will have left-hander Tarik Skubal, right-hander Casey Mize, and right-hander Keider Montero. This influx of talent should bolster the team’s pitching depth significantly. The Tigers also have a strong bullpen with bulk relievers like Brant Hurter, Kenta Maeda, and Ty Madden. To make room for Olson, the team will need to option a pitcher to Triple-A Toledo, which adds an extra layer of strategy to their roster management.
Meanwhile, there’s also progress on the rehab front for outfielder Wenceel Pérez. Pérez has been working his way back from a left oblique strain and has played three rehab games with Triple-A Toledo. The 24-year-old started as the designated hitter in the first two games earlier this week and then took the field in right on Thursday.
In his initial two rehab appearances, Pérez struggled a bit, going 0-for-5 with a walk and two strikeouts in six plate appearances. Notably, he took all six of those plate appearances from the left side against right-handed pitchers. This detail is significant because Pérez is a switch-hitter, and his right-handed swing has been lagging behind his left-handed swing in his recovery process. So far, he hasn't had the chance to use his right-handed swing during these rehab games.
Before the injury, Pérez’s stats showed he was a bit of a mixed bag. As a left-handed hitter, he posted a .243 average and a .686 OPS in 302 plate appearances against righties. On the flip side, he had a .239 average and a .672 OPS as a right-handed hitter in 76 plate appearances against lefties. His ability to balance these two sides will be crucial for his return to form.
With Olson's imminent return and Pérez’s ongoing rehab, the Tigers are shaping up to have a stronger roster as the season winds down. Fans should keep an eye on how these two players continue to progress and how their return impacts the team’s performance in the final stretch of the season.
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