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Why Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling felt 'shocked' when he learned about shoulder injury
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- Why Detroit Tigers' Matt Vierling felt 'shocked' when he learned about shoulder injury
LAKELAND, Fla. — The first warning sign appeared on Feb. 17, the first day of full-squad workouts in spring training.
That's when Detroit Tigers outfielder/third baseman Matt Vierling — coming off the best season of his career — noticed something unusual in his right shoulder. Having dealt with shoulder soreness before, he wasn't too worried.
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"It started to feel a little cranky," Vierling said.
Less than two weeks later, Vierling learned he would miss Opening Day as a result of opening 2025 season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder , which requires roughly three weeks of rest before being re-evaluated for baseball activities.
He won't be eligible to play in MLB games until April 6 once he is placed on the 10-day injured list.
The injury news caught him well off guard.
"Emotionally shocked," Vierling said Saturday, a day after the Tigers announced the news. "I'm still in a shocked phase trying to figure out how to handle it the right way."
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ANALYSIS: What Matt Vierling injury means for Tigers lineup, Opening Day roster prediction
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (8) looks on before a game against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Vierling is trying to find positives in the bad news, such as potentially missing only the first 12 games of the regular season, in the best-case scenario. However, he could be out longer depending on how the rehabilitation process goes.
For now, there isn't a timetable for his return.
"It could've been way worse," Vierling said. "I'm feeling grateful that it's not torn, and I'm feeling grateful that it's March 1. I feel lucky that this happened now versus in May. I'm going to be back. I'm happy that it happened now, and I'm happy that it's not worse."
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He paused.
"But also, not devastated, but it sucks," Vierling said. "I've never really been hurt in my career to this extent, so I'm trying to figure out how all this works — in my head. But we'll be OK."
He paused again.
"I'm telling you guys, it could've been way worse, and it could've happened in the middle of the year," Vierling said. "If we're going to take any positives from this, I'm in a good spot knowing that I'm going to be back, and it's not going to hinder — at least right now — too much of the season. We'll be good. I'm feeling pretty positive about all of that. I'm feeling grateful that it wasn't worse."
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THE INJURY: Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling to miss Opening Day with right shoulder injury
It's clear Vierling is struggling to come to terms with his situation.
Which is understandable, because he did nothing wrong.
"I've been trying to figure that out," said Vierling, who embodies what it means to be a gritty player. "I don't really have an answer as to what might've caused this. I've been told it probably just built-up over time. I'm kind of fishing for reasons."
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling works out from the third base during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
After the shoulder issue Feb. 17 on the first day of full-squad workouts, Vierling spent the entire week trying to work through the soreness. But the problem wouldn't go away. He even played center field Feb. 23 against the New York Yankees in the second game of spring training.
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The next day, Vierling didn't bounce back like normal.
"Still didn't feel great," Vierling said. "I'm like, 'Let's just take a look.' I went home that night thinking it wasn't much, and then all the sudden, it's a little bit more."
Getting that news caught Vierling off guard.
He never expected a significant shoulder injury.
"I was like, 'What?'" Vierling said. "A little shocked by the whole thing, and then it was just trying to process: What could I have done to prevent this? Did I do something wrong here? I didn't do anything wrong. This was going to happen."
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ANOTHER INJURY: Tigers' Parker Meadows shut down with arm nerve issue, no timetable for return
In less than three weeks, the Tigers will re-evaluate Vierling's rotator cuff to determine if he is ready to resume baseball activities. There's a chance he could begin the rehabilitation process around March 17 — St. Patrick's Day. There's also a chance Vierling could be forced to rest for longer than the prescribed three weeks.
The Tigers won't get a timetable for Vierling's return until putting him through the full battery of tests again, but they know they're going to be without one of their everyday players for Opening Day.
"Hopefully, re-image it," Vierling said, referencing the follow-up MRI in about two weeks. "Once I'm healed in there — which, hopefully, I am — we'll move forward. I should be all right."
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Vierling is in good spirits.
"I'll be back," he said. "We'll be good."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers Matt Vierling on shoulder: 'It could've been way worse'
