Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter remains on track with his rehabilitation program after a stress fracture in his lumbar spine, but he’s frustrated watching his teammates struggle on offense without being able to help.
Carpenter is an irreplaceable slugger in the middle of the Tigers’ lineup and the offense isn’t the same without him.
“I’m going crazy,” Carpenter said with a smile. “It’s been hard to see it and not be there, especially because it’s been so fun when they’re home, at least I get to hang out with them. It’s a little hard when they’re on tour.”
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The good news: Carpenter is scheduled to begin baseball activities on Monday after four weeks of physical therapy, exercises and rest. The 26-year-old needs about a week and a half of baseball activities before rehab assignment games, meaning he might not return to the Tigers until late July.
Carpenter, a left-handed hitter, was hitting .283 with eight home runs, 11 walks and 38 strikeouts in 50 games, posting a .914 OPS, before landing on the disabled list on May 29 with a lower back injury. . He had a 1.004 OPS against right-handed pitching.
The Tigers have played 21 games without Carpenter.
The Tigers hit .236 with a .684 OPS when Carpenter was healthy, but since his placement on the disabled list, the Tigers are hitting .217 with a .628 OPS. (Players not named Riley Greene are hitting .204 with a .579 OPS over the 21-game stretch.)
The last four weeks have laid the foundation for a full recovery.
“A lot of treatments, a lot of exercises, more treatment, more exercises and then rest,” Carpenter said. “That’s it until baseball starts again.”
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Baseball activities begin Monday.
“Now, that could mean a lot of different things,” manager AJ Hinch said, “and it might be a slow burn for him, but it’s encouraging that he can start doing baseball things a little bit and hopefully continue to keep up his progress.” . “.
Javier Báez stays in Lakeland
Shortstop Javier Báez (lumbar spine inflammation) has been cleared for baseball activities for three days, but has not reported to Comerica Park in Detroit.
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Instead, Báez is doing his job in the Tampa, Florida area, with a few visits to Lakeland, home of the Tigers’ spring training facility. He hit a facility in Tampa on Friday and is scheduled to report again in Lakeland on Saturday.
It is unclear when Báez will appear in Detroit.
“I think he’s going to go there (Lakeland) tomorrow, run some bases, play defense and continue his progression in baseball,” Hinch said. “Right now, the plan for the weekend is for me to do all of that in Lakeland.”
Báez has not played with the Tigers since June 8.
Alex Faedo’s rehabilitation task
Right-handed reliever Alex Faedo (right hip inflammation) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, completing one inning Wednesday. He is scheduled to pitch again on Saturday, but that could be his last rehab outing.
He threw 21 pitches in Wednesday’s appearance.
“He was a little rusty in his first outing,” Hinch said, “and to simulate what they’re going to ask him to do when he comes back, you need one more inning than two.”
After Saturday’s appearance, the Tigers will evaluate whether or not to activate Faedo for Monday’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Comerica Park.
“We’ve missed him,” Hinch said. “We have capable guys, but we consider him a weapon. He’s someone who comes in during the most stressful moments but can also get a lot of outs to help bridge the back end of the bullpen.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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