LAKELAND, FL – The Detroit Tigers aren’t expecting right-hander Troy Melton on the 2026 Opening Day roster.
It’s not because of performance.
It’s due to injury.
The 25-year-old has been shut down from throwing for one to two weeks with right elbow inflammation, which means he isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day on March 26 against the San Diego Padres.
“It’s unlikely that he’s going to be ready for the beginning of the season,” manager A.J. Hinch said Friday, Feb. 27, before a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies, “but we’ll know more as we ramp him back up what that exactly means.”
Melton visited a doctor for general arm soreness.
He was diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow.
“The doctor suggested one to two weeks of no throw,” Hinch said, “while he can still do other things – lifting, running, [pitcher fielding practice]. We’ll limit the throw while things calm down.”
Melton completed a bullpen Feb. 12, then threw live batting practice Feb. 15, followed by another bullpen Feb. 17 and another live batting practice Feb. 20, but he hasn’t pitched since then.
He is still waiting for his first spring training game.
“Time of year, certainly going to be super cautious with his throwing program,” Hinch said.
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In 2025, Melton registered a 2.76 ERA with 15 walks and 36 strikeouts across 45⅔ innings in 16 games (four starts). He also had a 3.23 ERA over 39 innings in 10 starts for Double-A Erie and a 2.72 ERA over 36⅓ innings in eight games (six starts) for Triple-A Toledo.
He made his MLB debut in July 2025.
For now, the Tigers have lost one of their next men up in the rotation depth chart to begin the 2026 season.
Before the injury, Melton projected to serve as the No. 1 starter in the Triple-A Toledo rotation coming out of spring training – unless the Tigers carried him in their bullpen, which seemed unlikely based on the long-term plan for his development as a starter.
The Tigers have five starters locked in for their Opening Day rotation: Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Justin Verlander, with Drew Anderson slated for the bullpen.
In Melton’s absence, the Tigers should have Keider Montero and Ty Madden atop the Triple-A rotation.
“I just got to play as well as I can,” Melton said Feb. 15, before the injury. “Their job is to put the best 26 guys on the field. It’s my job to make sure I’m one of those 26. All I’m trying to do is get people out, make pitches and make their decision hard.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Elbow injury leaves Tigers’ Troy Melton unlikely for 2026 Opening Day
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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