CHICAGO – Detroit Tigers left-handed reliever Brant Hurter has been on the 15-day injured list since Saturday, May 23, with lumbar spine inflammation.
Six days later, the Tigers transferred Hurter to the 60-day injured list.
Just like that, Hurter – the best lefty reliever in the Tigers’ bullpen – isn’t eligible to return until July 22, roughly one week after the All-Star Game.
“It requires a shutdown – and then a rebuild back up,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. “We know it’s going to be a couple of months. Losing him for that period of time is tough.”
Hurter recently visited a specialist.
Further medical information about his back injury led to the Tigers shutting him down from throwing.
“If he shuts down for a period of time, you have to almost start over with the throwing,” Hinch said. “It goes back to playing catch. It goes back to mound progression. It just takes time.”
In 2026, Hurter owns a 2.84 ERA with 12 walks and 18 strikeouts across 25⅓ innings in 21 games. The 27-year-old has limited left-handed hitters to a .114 batting average with a .303 OPS in 48 plate appearances.
Hurter suffered the back injury May 22 while pitching in the rain against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
“We’re left to the waiting game and hoping he can return stronger than ever,” Hinch said.
Kenley Jansen: Positive news
Right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen visited a specialist Friday after being placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with pelvic inflammation.
The Tigers received positive injury news.
“He’s not going to stop throwing – that’s a good sign,” Hinch said. “It’s a continuation of the same issue that he had when he missed that time earlier in the season. He didn’t go on the injured list, but we gave him a few days off. I’m encouraged by the fact that he’s not going to have to stop baseball activities.”
Jansen will continue his rehab program with the Tigers during their upcoming three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, beginning Monday.
It’s unclear whether he will need a rehab assignment.
In 2026, Jansen has a career-worst 4.80 ERA with nine walks and 19 strikeouts across 15 innings in 18 games, recording seven saves in 11 opportunities.
He has allowed three walk-off home runs: May 24 against the Cincinnati Reds, May 29 against the Atlanta Braves and Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Tigers’ Brant Hurter is on 60-day injured list – and what it means
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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