SARASOTA, FL – The schedule has been updated.
Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez will make his first start of spring training Monday, March 2, against the Atlanta Braves at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland.
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Of the five starters, right-hander Justin Verlander will be the last member of the projected rotation to start in a spring game.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
Valdez threw 30-plus pitches Wednesday in his first and only live batting practice session on the TigerTown backfields.
“It was the next step of his progression to build up some tolerance,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Thursday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. “He got his work in and got his pitch count up a little bit. Pitching with no adrenaline and no crowd, I see it as a general next step in spring training.”
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In early February, Valdez signed a two-year, $75 million contract with the Tigers in free agency, paying him $17.5 million in 2026 and $37.5 million in 2027, along with a $20 million signing bonus that’s deferred. The deal includes a $35 million player option for 2028 and a $40 million mutual option for 2029 with a $5 million buyout.
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers’ Framber Valdez scheduled for spring training start