The Detroit Tigers activated Kerry Carpenter before Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. Carpenter, 26, is starting at designated hitter and batting second for the Tigers after missing nearly three months of action with a lumbar spine stress fracture.
“He’s going to be a guy that I’m going to ramp into activity,” manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio‘s Power Alley. “He’s going to play a little bit of outfield and he’s going to DH a lot. He had a really good rehab assignment. That’ll be a big boost for us, even though he won’t play every single day. I’ve got to be careful with him getting back into game shape, but we want to do that here since he’s physically ready to go.”
Utilityman Ryan Vilade was optioned to Triple-A to open an active roster spot. Right-hander Brendan White was recalled from Double-A Erie and placed on the 60-day IL with a right elbow strain.
The Tigers have announced the following roster moves:
• Optioned INF/OF Ryan Vilade to Triple A Toledo
• Reinstated OF Kerry Carpenter from the 60-day injured list
• To make room for Carpenter on the 40-man roster, recalled RHP Brendan White from Double A Erie and placed him…— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) August 13, 2024
Kerry Carpenter Returns from Back Injury
Before his return to the Tigers, Carpenter played in four of six games last week with the Triple-A Toledo in a rehab assignment. He finished with a .214 batting average with one walk and five strikeouts with the Mud Hens, playing two games in the outfield. Before the injury, Carpenter was batting .283/.342/.572 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 50 games.
The Tigers sit nine games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. While it’s unlikely that will reach the postseason, the return of Carpenter will be a massive boost for Detroit. The Tigers as a team are hitting a lowly .234/.298/.368 batting line against right-handed pitchers, but Carpenter has strong numbers against them. Carpenter is slashing .282/.333/.578 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 149 plate appearances against right-handers.
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