Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, who hasn’t played since the end of May, is working through a return-to-play running progression as he rehabilitates a stress reaction in his left fibula.
The 22-year-old ran in the outfield — while wearing an air cast brace around the lower part of his left leg — before Tuesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Getting rid of the brace seems like the next step in his recovery.
Greene, the No. 5 overall pick in 2019, has been playing catch on the field and hitting flips from coaches in the batting cage.
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He said Tuesday that he felt like he was running at 60-70% in the outfield.
The Tigers didn’t take Greene on the recent four-game road trip to Minneapolis. He stayed in Detroit and spent time at Comerica Park using the anti-gravity treadmill to advance his cardio progression.
Before the injury, Greene hit .296 with five home runs, 21 walks and 64 strikeouts in 52 games. He led the Tigers in May with a .365 batting average and 1.008 on-base-plus-slugging percentage as one of the best hitters in baseball.
The Tigers have a 6-12 record since Greene landed on the injured list May 31.
Eduardo Rodriguez to face hitters
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture) completed a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a live batting practice Saturday at Comerica Park.
The 30-year-old suffered his finger injury May 28.
Rodriguez owns a 2.13 ERA with 16 walks and 67 strikeouts over 67⅔ innings in 11 appearances this season. He has an opt-out clause in his contract at the end of the season and could be traded by the Tigers at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Casey Mize’s next step
Right-hander Casey Mize, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and an unspecified back surgery, has been playing catch five times per week, but Wednesday, the 26-year-old will take the next step in his progression.
Mize is scheduled to throw a short box bullpen.
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A short box bullpen, which isn’t the same as a bullpen session, is essentially throwing off a limited slope from the front of the mound, with the catcher typically set up in front of home plate to lessen the throwing distance.
Throwing a short box bullpen is a small step forward but doesn’t guarantee the 2018 No. 1 overall pick will pitch in live games during the 2023 season. The Tigers have not revealed their anticipated timetable for Mize’s return to the big leagues.
Other medical updates
• Left-hander Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain) and right-hander Matt Manning (right foot fracture) will start Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, for Triple-A Toledo to continue their rehab assignments. If this is Manning’s final rehab outing, he would be lined up to start June 27 or June 28 against the Texas Rangers.
• Right-hander Beau Brieske (right ulnar nerve entrapment) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, pitching out of the bullpen on a game-by-game basis to simulate normal reliever usage. He has completed five appearances during his rehab assignment, posting a 0.00 ERA with three walks and five strikeouts in 5⅓ innings.
• Right-hander Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis) will pitch one inning with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. He has completed three appearances during his rehab assignment, allowing four runs with four walks and three strikeouts in 1⅔ innings.
• Right-hander Alex Faedo (right middle finger discomfort) completed a bullpen session Wednesday.
• Right-hander Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort) started a return-to-play throwing progression Monday, throwing from 60 feet on flat ground. He is scheduled to throw from 75 feet Wednesday and 90 feet Friday.
• Outfielder Akil Baddoo (right quad strain) started a return-to-play running progression Monday.
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Not in the starting lineup
Outfielder Matt Vierling (low back spasms) hasn’t been placed on the injured list, but he continues to feel discomfort in his low back. The 26-year-old first reported back spasms Sunday, just six days after returning from the injured list with low back soreness.
The back spasms aren’t related to the back soreness.
“When I first hurt (my back) three weeks ago, it felt different,” Vierling said. “Today, it hit and didn’t feel anything near what I felt then. I just needed a couple days to get my muscles and everything good to where I can get going again.”
Vierling, a right-handed hitter, wasn’t in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against left-hander Daniel Lynch, but he expects to be able for pinch-hitting, pinch-running and defense.
A cough led to the back spasms.
“It’s getting better each day,” Vierling said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.