Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris on bullpen market at trade deadline
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris talks July 31, 2025, about his evaluation of the bullpen market at the trade deadline.
Detroit Tigers right-hander José Urquidy (right elbow surgery) completed the first start of his rehab assignment Sunday, Aug. 3, with Low-A Lakeland. The 30-year-old is coming back from the second Tommy John surgery of his professional career.
Urquidy hasn’t pitched in MLB since Sept. 29, 2023.
Pitchers are allowed a maximum of 30 days on rehab assignment (compared to 20 days for position players), which means Urquidy must join the Tigers by Sept. 2, at the latest.
“Getting him back on the mound is great,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Monday, Aug. 4. “I mean, that’s just a great accomplishment in itself. He is going to pitch again in a couple of days.”
In Sunday’s rehab start, Urquidy — a five-year MLB veteran who won the 2022 World Series — retired all three batters he faced on 10 pitches: Juan Matheus (flyout), Roderick Arias (strikeout), Engelth Urena (popout). He struck out Arias swinging with a sixth-pitch curveball.
His fastball averaged 92.3 mph.
His four-seamer averaged 93.2 mph in 2023.
“He went and did a little bit more in the bullpen because he didn’t get all of his pitches in,” Hinch said. “The only issue with having five or six weapons is you can’t throw them in 10 pitches in A-ball when they’re going up to hack against a big leaguer. He got his outs.”
Urquidy and his wife, EstefanÃa, are expecting the birth of their second child at some point in the next couple of weeks. He will continue to rehab in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers’ spring training complex, while waiting for the baby to arrive.
After the birth, Urquidy should be able to transfer his rehab assignment to Triple-A Toledo.
“I talk a lot about shifting from rehab mindset to competitive mindset,” Hinch said. “This is part of it.”
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Other rehab assignments
Aside from Urquidy, the Tigers have three other pitchers on rehab assignments: right-hander Alex Cobb (right/left hip inflammation), right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck stiffness) and right-handed reliever Alex Lange (right lat repair).
Cobb, 37, started Sunday for High-A West Michigan in the second start of his rehab assignment, allowing one unearned run on two hits and one walk with two strikeouts. He threw 31 pitches in his first start, then 38 pitches in his second start.
It’s unclear when Cobb will make his next rehab start.
Gipson-Long, 27, completed his first start since restarting his rehab assignment Friday, Aug. 1, with Triple-A Toledo, tossing three scoreless innings and striking out five batters, without any hits or walks. He threw 42 pitches.
Lange, 29, has a 6.35 ERA with seven walks and 14 strikeouts across 11â…“ innings in 13 games throughout two rehab assignments, dating back to June 17. He hasn’t walked a batter in each of his last three outings.
Parker Meadows injury update
Center fielder Parker Meadows (right quad strain) is progressing toward a rehab assignment, but he still has boxes to check. The 25-year-old completed light running in the outfield before Monday’s game.
“Slow and steady,” Hinch said.
“He said he’s feeling better and better, which is great,” Hinch continued. “The throwing has been great. He’s swung the bat a little bit. Generally, the ramp-up is now starting.”
Meadows hasn’t played for the Tigers since July 27.
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This story was updated to add a gallery. Â