The Detroit Tigers have a new reliever in the mix for the time being.
The Tigers selected the contract of right-handed reliever Tanner Rainey to fill the spot of lefty Emmanuel De Jesus, who was placed on the paternity list following the birth of his daughter.
“Everybody is well and they are resting after a long 24 hours bringing the baby girl into the world,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday, Aug. 11, before the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. “So, he is on paternity. We will hopefully get him back whenever everything is settled and safe and sound.”
De Jesus can be on the paternity list for up to three games, according to MLB. Rainey’s addition brings the Tigers back down to two left-handed relievers, Tyler Holton and Drew Sommers, in the bullpen until De Jesus returns.
Rainey, 33, signed a minor league contract with the Tigers as a free agent in July 2025. He made two appearances, giving up three runs in two innings. He re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league deal in November.
Rainey is an eight-year MLB veteran with nearly 200 innings across 211 big-league appearances. He spent the bulk of that time as a member of the Washington Nationals bullpen, winning a World Series in 2019.
“We will have a full bullpen,” Hinch said.
Jack Flaherty ramping up
Flaherty, who has been on the injured list with right flexor tendon inflammation since July 21, relayed a personal message to Hinch to share publicly.
“He wanted me to say he’s throwing further and real baseballs today,” Hinch said.
A few moments later, Hinch expanded to say Flaherty has been steadily increasing his throwing regimen as he inches closer to a return. Flaherty is 3-8 with a 4.58 ERA in 19 starts this season.
“Jack is increasing intensity, volume and distance, which is a good sign,” Hinch said. “It is very much a step forward for him, which is good to see.”
Wenceel Pérez rehab stopped by setback
Pérez’s rehab assignment will be stopped for the time being because of delays in recovery to his sight. Pérez has been on the injured list since mid-June after getting hit by a snapped plyometric band below his left eye.
Pérez played one game with Low-A Lakeland and three with Triple-A Toledo before the setback.
“Everything is fine with him,” Hinch said. “It is just a slow process of making sure. The vision hasn’t returned to normal yet to where his normal vision is, but it was enough to increase him. But we are just going to take a step back and get him re-evaluated.”
The main issue has been light affecting his eyes, leading to fatigue.
“There’s a certain period of time he needs to be off rehab before we would introduce games again,” Hinch said.
Left-handed reliever Brant Hurter will start for Toledo on Tuesday as he continues his rehab assignment for lumbar spine inflammation.
Will Vest undergoes hip surgery
Vest had the second surgery from the injuries that ended his 2026 season early. The Tigers shut down Vest on July 31 to undergo surgery on his right arm – his throwing arm.
When the arm surgery was announced, Hinch said Vest would also require hip surgery. Vest underwent that arthroscopic right hip surgery on Tuesday in Detroit.
Contact Jared Ramsey at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers place Emmanuel De Jesus on paternity leave, call up reliever
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
