Detroit Tigers prospect Bryce Rainer suffered a right shoulder injury.
The injury occurred Tuesday, June 3, in the fourth inning of a game for Low-A Lakeland, when the 19-year-old dove back into first base on a pickoff attempt. After diving, he immediately rolled onto his back in pain. He was helped off the field and into the dugout by a coach and an athletic trainer, then he walked to the clubhouse with his right arm in a sling.
There's no timetable for an update, but the Tigers won't provide any information until Rainer and his medical scans have been fully evaluated.
MORE ABOUT HIM: Bryce Rainer solves Tigers' shortstop problem if available in 2024 MLB draft
Rainer — whom the Tigers selected No. 11 overall in the 2024 draft out of high school — is hitting .288 with five home runs, 20 walks and 33 strikeouts in 35 games for Low-A Lakeland, getting all of his defensive reps at shortstop. His average exit velocity is 92.1 mph, which would rank among the top 50 MLB players.
He had a 10-game on-base streak entering Tuesday's game.
The Tigers believe Rainer is their shortstop of the future, as he has a strong throwing arm and hits the ball extremely hard.
Rainer has drawn comparisons to MLB superstar Corey Seager — thanks to his 6-foot-3 frame, shortstop position, powerful left-handed swing and high-upside potential.
Both were selected within the first 20 picks of their draft class, though neither cracked the top 10.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) ]
Seager is a career .290 hitter with 206 home runs over 1,060 games across 11 MLB seasons, with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015-21) and Texas Rangers (2022-25). The 31-year-old is a five-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, two-time World Series MVP and former National League Rookie of the Year.
"I think it's a great comparison," Rainer said in July 2024, when the Tigers drafted him out of Harvard-Westlake in California. "I've watched him since he started playing in the major leagues. He's been one of my favorite players. If I end up having a career like he does in the major leagues, I don't think I would be too mad about that."
Rainer is the Tigers' No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline . He trails only outfielder Max Clark and infielder Kevin McGonigle on the organization's top-30 list.
Rainer also ranks as the No. 47 prospect in baseball .
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
Order your copy of "Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers !" by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com .
This story was updated to add a gallery.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers prospect Bryce Rainer suffers right shoulder injury
