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Detroit Tigers injury update: Manuel Margot to 10-day IL; Matt Vierling resumes throwing
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- Detroit Tigers injury update: Manuel Margot to 10-day IL; Matt Vierling resumes throwing
The Detroit Tigers are digging deeper into the organization's outfield depth to address injuries.
On Tuesday, the Tigers placed outfielder Manuel Margot on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation and called up outfielder Brewer Hicklen from Triple-A Toledo in the corresponding move. The Tigers acquired Hicklen, 29, on March 28 for cash considerations from the Milwaukee Brewers .
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Manager A.J. Hinch said Margot's injury became apparent after he came up short on Ben Rice's triple to the right-center field gap in the first game of the series against the New York Yankees on Monday. Margot tried to play through it, but limped to first base on a groundout in the sixth inning, prompting a defensive replacement.
More: Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers' plate discipline, defense pave way for key moments
"He went and met with the doctors, ended up getting some tests and came back today it was an IL (injury)," Hinch said. "We will see what that means and how long it is."
Hinch said Hicklen is likely to see the field in one of the two home games remaining against the Yankees, and pointed to Wednesday's matchup against lefty starter Max Fried . Hicklen will occupy a similar role as Margot as a right-handed depth option in the outfield capable of filling in at all three positions.
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"He's a player we acquired for a reason, being a right-handed bat, moving around the outfield a little bit," Hinch said. "He's not in there today. Likely to be in there tomorrow against Fried in the outfield and really replacing Manny's profile."
Detroit Tigers right fielder Manuel Margot (7) bats against New York Yankees during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, April 7, 2025.
In 2024, Hicklen hit .246 with 22 home runs, 61 walks (12.2% walk rate) and 139 strikeouts (27.9% strikeout rate) across 115 games in Triple-A Nashville, with 44 steals in 49 attempts. He made 87 starts in right field, 12 starts in left field and two starts in center field. He has played in nine MLB games and has not recorded a big league hit.
"The last 10 days have been quite the roller coaster," Hicklen said at his new locker next to Justyn-Henry Malloy . "Getting (designated for assignment) right before opening day and still getting picked up by the Tigers, who need some outfield depth.
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"It's really an amazing opportunity for me. Super grateful and thankful to be in a Tigers uniform in the Motor City."
Vierling cleared to throw
Utility man Matt Vierling has been cleared to resume throwing in addition to his live batting practice and defensive drills. Vierling has been out since the beginning of spring training with a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
"It's going to still be a slow and steady climb as we increase volume and intensity," Hinch said. "But, he raced he raced out to play catch in 30-degree weather so that's just where his mindset is on the successful step forward."
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Vierling described his rehab process as "going great" on Friday ahead of the Tigers home opening game against the Chicago White Sox , where he was still limited to hitting and defensive drills without throwing.
Once he goes through the throwing progression, the Tigers will determine his minor league rehab assignment. Hinch guaranteed Vierling will have a rehab assignment, but said how long and at what level it will be is up in the air until he's ready to return.
"We can't race to a rehab assignment until he can make all the throws," Hinch said.
Torres progressing with hitting drills
Second baseman Gleyber Torres , who is on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury, has begun a hitting progression, moving from work on a tee to facing high-speed pitches from a machine.
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"We haven't determined exactly if he is going to need a rehab stint," Hinch said. "He's been doing some sort of high-velocity work off a machine."
On Saturday, Torres said he felt "really happy" with how his body responded to the swings. Torres said he wanted to be cautious with the injury after never dealing with an oblique issue in his career.
"It's really hard, but I'm just trying to be really smart," Torres said.
Other Tigers injury updates
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Catcher Jake Rogers was initially in the starting lineup on Tuesday, scheduled to catch Tarik Skubal as usual. Rogers got scratched with left oblique tightness an hour before first pitch and was replaced by Dillon Dingler. He was placed on the 10-day injured list shortly after.
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RHP Alex Cobb , out with a hip injury, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday. RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long , recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2024, and RHP Ty Madden (right shoulder strain) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday.
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RHP Alex Lange is in a period of rest after experiencing right arm inflammation during his rehab process for a right lat injury. RHP Jose Urquidy is going through long toss sessions at 120 feet three times a week.
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Centerfielder Parker Meadows has not been cleared to throw and is completing defensive and conditioning drills.
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Outfielder Wenceel Pérez is completing daily rehab.
Jared Ramsey covers sports for the Detroit Free Press . Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com ; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury update: Margot to IL; Vierling resumes throwing
