The rehabbing players were in town for Labor Day.
The Detroit Tigers welcomed center fielder Parker Meadows, right-hander José Urquidy and right-handed reliever Alex Cobb to the clubhouse Monday, Sept. 1, before the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets at Comerica Park.
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Manager A.J. Hinch provided updates about the rehabbing players, along with two other injured players: right-handed reliever Paul Sewald and outfielder Matt Vierling.
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Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo in the 2025 season.
Parker Meadows
Center fielder Parker Meadows (right quad strain) has a chance to join the Tigers on Friday, Sept. 5, for the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
The Tigers, though, are scheduled to face White Sox left-hander MartÃn Pérez in Friday’s opener. Therefore, the left-handed hitting Meadows could be more likely to be activated Saturday, Sept. 6, for the second game of the series.
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He hasn’t played for the Tigers since July 27.
“Parker has been pretty good,” Hinch said. “He said this is the best his body has felt. We’re going series by series, but he’s playing with freedom.”
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The 25-year-old is scheduled to play center field for the second game in a row Wednesday, Sept. 3, then the Tigers will evaluate him for a return to the big leagues.
Meadows has completed five games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, hitting .250 with four walks and 10 strikeouts across 20 plate appearances. Of his five games, he started four of them in center field.
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“He’s getting after it on defense, which is really the tell-tale that he is feeling good,” Hinch said. “The timing on the offensive stuff will happen, and sometimes, it doesn’t even happen in Triple-A, it happens when he comes back to the big leagues, but the all-out effort in mental freedom of being able to run after balls in center is more important.”
José Urquidy
Right-hander José Urquidy (right elbow surgery) completed three scoreless innings on two hits, zero walks and three strikeouts Tuesday, Sept. 2, throwing 39 pitches. It was the eighth game of his rehab assignment in return from Tommy John surgery, including his fourth game with the Mud Hens.
The Tigers don’t plan to increase his workload beyond four innings.
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“Bouncing back and being able to do that multiple times in a six-day span, as opposed to just once, is going to be really important for him,” Hinch said. “We need him to sharpen up his command, which is what his calling card is and also something that’s challenged coming off that surgery.”
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Urquidy, 30, is scheduled for another rehab outing at some point before Sunday, Sept. 7, opening the door for the Tigers to decide whether or not to activate him for their series opener Tuesday, Sept. 9, against the New York Yankees.
In Tuesday’s rehab outing, Urquidy threw 14 fastballs, 11 changeups, five curveballs, three sweepers and two sinkers. His fastball averaged 90.9 mph, down 2.2 mph from his fastball velocity in 2023. He hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2023, when he posted a 5.29 ERA over 63 innings in 16 games (10 starts).
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Urquidy pitched in the 2019 World Series (and won the 2022 World Series) with the Houston Astros, with Hinch as the Astros’ manager from 2015-19.
“I have a long history with him, so I have a long memory of when he’s at his best,” Hinch said. “I hate to say it’s always pinpoint, but it’s oftentimes pinpoint control, where he can throw whatever pitch he wants. His misses have been a little bit more exaggerated than normal, but his stuff has played well.”
Paul Sewald
Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald (right shoulder strain) — acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the July 31 trade deadline — completed a live batting practice session against hitters Monday at the Tigers’ spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida.
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By Wednesday, the 35-year-old returned to the Tigers at Comerica Park. A rehab assignment is expected to be the next step in his return-to-play program.
“He’s about to be competitive,” Hinch said.
Although Sewald is progressing, the Tigers won’t be eligible to activate him until Sept. 10 from the 60-day injured list, which means he won’t join the Tigers before then.
Sewald hasn’t pitched since July 11.
When healthy, Sewald posted a 4.70 ERA with four walks and 18 strikeouts, limited to 15â…“ innings across 18 games in 2025 because of two stints on the injured list with a right shoulder strain. He also had a 4.31 ERA in 39â…” innings in 2024.
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Matt Vierling
Outfielder Matt Vierling (left oblique strain) is trending toward beginning a rehab assignment, but he appears to be behind Sewald in the process. He hasn’t played for the Tigers since Aug. 9, but multiple injuries have limited him to 31 games in 2025.
“Slow but surely,” Hinch said.
The 28-year-old has been hitting in a limited capacity, along with completing defensive drills. The Tigers hope Vierling returns by the end of September.
“He’s just not full-go yet,” Hinch said. “Given the time of year and the nature of the injury, where a setback would likely end his season, we have to be very careful. Slow and steady process is still progress.”
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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 injury updates: Parker Meadows nearing return