When The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen reported from the Tigers’ clubhouse that newly acquired outfielder Brewer Hicklen was present ahead of Detroit’s second game against the Yankees, fans immediately began speculating about the corresponding roster move. The most popular theory? That Ryan Kreidler would be designated for assignment—a move that, frankly, feels more like a matter of when than if, given his ongoing struggles at the plate.
But that wasn’t the case. According to the Tigers’ latest injury update, Kreidler is staying—for now. Instead, Detroit suffered another blow to its already depleted outfield: newly signed Manuel Margot is heading to the 10-day injured list with knee inflammation sustained during Monday’s game.
Margot had been a late addition to the roster after a wave of injuries sidelined Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling, Wenceel Pérez, and Akil Baddoo to start the season. It’s beginning to feel like the Tigers’ outfield—or maybe their entire position player group—is cursed. Just last week, Gleyber Torres, one of the team’s few healthy veterans, also landed on the IL with a left oblique strain.
Tigers move Manuel Margot to 10-day IL with left knee inflammation to deal another blow to Detroit’s outfield
So, the inevitable “Ryan Kreidler has been DFA’d” tweet will have to wait—at least for now. There was a bit of good news in the latest injury update, though: Matt Vierling has been cleared to resume throwing after a brief pause in his rehab last week. Like Margot, he remains on the 10-day IL and is eligible to return whenever he’s ready, though the team hasn’t provided a specific timeline for his return.
Meanwhile, Parker Meadows still isn’t throwing or swinging a bat. He’s been shifted to the 60-day IL and won’t be eligible to come back until late May at the earliest.
Before his injury, Margot had been sharing right field duties with Kerry Carpenter and Zach McKinstry and was swinging the bat well—he drove in three runs in each of Detroit’s season-opening games against the Dodgers.
With Margot out, the Tigers lose another right-handed bat and can’t rely on a clean right-lefty platoon in right field. That likely means Justyn-Henry Malloy, who’s only seen time as a DH so far, will start seeing outfield reps. For now, Detroit will have to be patient and hope Vierling is the next man up to return.
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