Detroit – The Tigers aren’t shutting the door on the possibility of outfielder Austin Meadows getting back before the end of the season, but with less than two months left, the odds are long against it.
“He’s been getting treatment at home and he’s also traveled to a few different places to continue trying to get better,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He’s seen some incremental gains but he’s also had some rough times. He’s not doing any baseball activity to speak of.
“We’re still hopeful he’s going to get up and running and get going, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride for him.”
Meadows, 28, is battling an anxiety disorder. Acquired from the Rays for Isaac Paredes before the 2022 season, he’s been limited to 42 games with the Tigers, six this season.
“We’ve been in contract with him and his team,” Hinch said. “There is no definitive plan to get him back into baseball activity and until there is, there is nothing more to update. Until he can get back up and running, we can’t think about what’s ahead.”
There could be a Meadows playing in the outfield for the Tigers this season, though. Parker Meadows, Austin’s younger brother, is expected to be among the prospects the club will take a look at either by the end of August or in September.
The most likely scenario for Austin Meadows, assuming he won’t play again this season, is for the Tigers to non-tender him after the season, making him a free agent.
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