Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter is nearing a return to baseball activities after a prolonged injury layoff. Carpenter, who has been absent since May 26 due to a lumbar spine stress fracture, is in the recovery phase. His injury required an initial 3½-4 weeks of rest, followed by an additional 1½ weeks of baseball-related exercises before he can resume playing games.
According to Carpenter’s recovery plan, he is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment in early July. However, the exact date of his return to the Tigers remains uncertain. Carpenter expressed relief at how quickly he has been able to heal, noting, “Let the bone heal, and then ramp back up after that. I’ve never dealt with this kind of thing before, so it was quicker than I thought. I was happy about that.”
As of Thursday, Carpenter is halfway through the rest period of his recovery. He might start baseball activities by the following weekend, coinciding with the Tigers’ return to Comerica Park from a road trip. This rest period primarily involves physical therapy, and Carpenter reported an improvement in his condition, stating, “Even right now, it doesn’t feel as bad as it did two weeks ago.”
The Tigers placed Carpenter on the injured list on May 29, following his last game on May 26. Initial tests indicated lumbar spine inflammation, but further examinations revealed a stress fracture by May 31. Carpenter described the pain, explaining that running exacerbated the discomfort, while swinging did not affect him as much.
Carpenter is uncertain about the exact cause of his injury but suspects it might be related to his weight training. He surmised, “Probably some of the (weight) training I’ve been doing. Maybe I wasn’t careful enough with some of it. Other than that, I don’t think there’s a reason. I think a stress fracture just happens over time.”
The Tigers have struggled without Carpenter, who has been a crucial offensive player this season. Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, has a .283 batting average, eight home runs, 11 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 50 games. His absence has been felt significantly, as the Tigers’ offensive performance has declined. Before Carpenter’s injury, the Tigers ranked 20th in MLB with a .684 OPS. Since his departure, they have dropped to 27th with a .620 OPS. Additionally, their OPS against right-handed pitchers has plummeted to .611 without Carpenter, highlighting his impact.
Carpenter ranks seventh in OPS against right-handers among 196 players with at least 140 plate appearances, trailing only elite hitters like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Despite his extended absence, Carpenter is optimistic about returning to form. He remarked, “I was feeling good. But I feel like I can come back after a rehab stint and do the same thing.”
While Carpenter’s return may not occur until late July, he remains on track with the projected recovery timeline. The Tigers are cautious not to rush his comeback to avoid any setbacks. Manager A.J. Hinch acknowledged the significance of Carpenter’s presence, stating, “He’s a really big bat. Go grab anybody’s lineup and pick that dude in the middle who dominates and take him out, and you see how everybody feels.”
For updates on Carpenter’s progress and other Tigers news, fans can follow Evan Petzold and listen to the “Days of Roar” podcast available on various platforms.