Chicago — Kerry Carpenter will get at least one more game at Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, but his much-needed return to the Tigers’ lineup appears imminent.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch said before Saturday’s game against the White Sox that Carpenter feels “really good” after making his first rehab appearance Friday. Playing in his first game since May 9, Carpenter finished 1-for-2 with two walks for the Mud Hens before he was removed from the game. He led off and played right field.
Carpenter, out for three weeks with a left AC joint sprain, is scheduled to get additional at-bats Saturday night when Toledo hosts Columbus at Fifth Third Field.
“And we’ll assess where he’s at,” said Hinch, who spoke to Carpenter after his rehab game Friday. “He controlled the strike zone. … All things are good with him.”
Second baseman Gleyber Torres (left oblique strain), meanwhile, worked out with Toledo on Friday, hitting off a machine and taking full swings, Hinch said.
Torres is scheduled to get his first rehab at-bats in Toledo Saturday night. He is scheduled to play second base.
“We’ll see how many games it takes,” Hinch said. “Is it one, is it two, is it more than that? I don’t know yet.”
While he’s been on the IL, Torres has been able to do defensive work, but he hasn’t been to swing fully until recently. The Tigers’ offense desperately needs some reinforcements.
Detroit had four hits in Friday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss to the White Sox at Rate Field in falling to 22-36 on the year, largely because of an offense that has been awful most of May. The lineup is missing four Opening Day starters, including shortstop Javier Baez (right ankle sprain) and center fielder Parker Meadows (left radius fracture). Amid those absences, the Tigers have been forced to give extended playing time to severely scuffling Wenceel Perez, Zack Short, Jahmai Jones and Zach McKinstry.
Carpenter appears to be trending toward a return in the next day or two, perhaps for the upcoming series at Tampa Bay, while Torres might need a little more time than that.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Carpenter, Torres injury updates: Help for Tigers’ offense on horizon
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
