Injuries & Moves: Dingler selected from Toledo
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July 29: C Dillon Dingler selected from Triple-A Toledo
Dingler, the Tigers’ No. 11 prospect, gets his first call up amid a breakout season at Triple-A Toledo that included a hitting tear over the last week. The Tigers’ second-round pick from the 2020 Draft hit 10-for-19 over his last five games with five home runs, 10 RBIs, five walks and three strikeouts. His .308 average ranks second in the International League, while his .938 OPS ranks fourth. Expect him to split catching duties down the stretch with Jake Rogers.
“His bat has really come alive this season,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Controlling the strike zone has gotten better. The damage is obviously very notable. He’s walking a little more, striking out a little bit less and starting to understand how to be an offensive player. He has a chance to really impact us on both sides. He will catch a lot.”
July 29: LHP Bryan Sammons selected from Triple-A Toledo; LHP Easton Lucas optioned to Triple-A Toledo
The Tigers signed Sammons out of independent ball last year after five seasons in the Twins system. He was a quiet success story this year in a Toledo rotation that saw injuries and struggles from well-regarded prospects. The 29-year-old posted a 6-5 record and 4.18 ERA in 17 starts, allowing 73 hits over 84 innings with 34 walks and 78 strikeouts. He’s expected to work out of the bullpen for now to help the Tigers through a likely stretch of three consecutive bullpen games, including Sunday’s loss to Minnesota.
“He’s done a lot of work,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He went to Double-A last year, he’s been in Triple-A. The left-handedness is really important against Cleveland as we’ve seen in the last series. He’s got a pretty good cutter. He’s been a pretty good strike thrower. And his journey, he’s worked his way through and finally gets an opportunity.”
Lucas made a solid impression in his second Tigers stint, including two perfect innings and two strikeouts last Thursday for his first Major League win. However, he became a victim of the roster shuffling the Tigers have had to do to keep fresh arms available for all of their bullpen games.
July 29: INF Ryan Kreidler recalled from Triple-A Toledo; SS Javier Báez placed on medical emergency/bereavement list
Kreidler, who spent a month platooning at shortstop while Báez was on the injured list with a back injury, returns while Báez returns home to deal with a family matter. By rule, Báez must miss three days while on the list, so the soonest he could return is Thursday’s series opener against the Royals. The 26-year-old Kreidler batted 5-for-40 with a home run and two RBIs with Detroit this season.
July 29: RHP Ricky Vanasco acquired from Dodgers for cash considerations and optioned to Triple-A Toledo
The Tigers badly needed relief depth after running through three bullpen games last week, having lost relievers Alex Lange, Mason Englert and Brendan White to injuries in the Minors and potentially dealing more pitchers by Tuesday’s Trade Deadline.
Vanasco, designated for assignment by Los Angeles last week, pitched in two games for the Dodgers, most recently July 13 against the Tigers at Comerica Park, where he allowed three runs on three hits without retiring a batter. The 25-year-old had a 3.47 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 23 1/3 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but also walked 21 batters. He throws a mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s curveball with a solid 35 percent whiff rate and an upper-80s slider.
July 28: Traded C Carson Kelly to Rangers for RHP Tyler Owens and C Liam Hicks
Kelly has experienced a career renaissance of sorts this season, including a 1.7 fWAR and .716 OPS that both rank as his best since 2021. He turned 30 two weeks ago, and is set to hit free agency at season’s end. With top catching prospect Dillon Dingler knocking on the door with a hitting tear at Triple-A Toledo, the Tigers dealt Kelly and opened the door for Dingler’s promotion.
The 23-year-old Owens pitches bigger than his 5-foot-10 frame, with a power fastball that sits in the mid- to upper-90s and complements an above-average slider. He pitched in 26 games out of the bullpen for Frisco, posting a 2-0 record with eight saves and a 2.80 ERA. He struck out 35 batters over 35 1/3 innings while yielding just two home runs out of 33 hits allowed. He was a Braves prospect until going to Texas last January in a trade for outfielder J.P. Martinez.
The 25-year-old Hicks batted .260/.364/.353 in 80 games at Double-A Frisco this season with 15 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBIs. The left-handed hitter drew almost as many walks (41) as strikeouts (44) and shows consistent contact skills at the plate, fitting the Tigers’ organizational philosophy of zone control at the plate. He’s still a work in progress behind the plate, throwing out 10 of 42 would-be basestealers while allowing six passed balls and committing four errors. He’s expected to provide catching depth in the system with the potential to become a left-handed hitting option in Detroit in time.
July 28: OF Parker Meadows (right hamstring strain) begins rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo
Meadows received his first game action since July 7 with some rehab work for the Mud Hens. He went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored as a designated hitter on Sunday in Toledo, and is expected to play the outfield Tuesday and Wednesday when the Hens hit the road for Indianapolis. The Tigers will re-evaluate him from there, but given the timetable and the way he was running the bases in workouts, he could be back in center field at Comerica Park for next weekend’s series against the Royals.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
OF Riley Greene (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: TBD
Greene has resumed some baseball activity, though he has not yet started fully running again. He’ll have to show he can run at full speed in the field and on the bases again before being cleared for a rehab assignment. Read more > (Last updated: July 29)
OF Parker Meadows (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Possibly Aug. 2
The Tigers sent Meadows on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on July 28. He went 0-for-2 with two walks as a DH, then will play center field on July 30 and Aug. 1 before being re-evaluated. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Reese Olson (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: TBD
Olson, who left the Tigers' 7-3 win over Toronto on July 21 with right shoulder soreness, has a mild shoulder strain after further examination in Detroit. The Tigers still do not have a timetable on his potential return, but he, at least, will not need surgery. (Last updated: July 23)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Casey Mize (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: End of August
The Tigers moved Mize to the 60-day injured list on July 29, leaving him ineligible to return until Aug. 31. Manager A.J. Hinch said there was no setback, but that the timeline to ramp him up to being a full-fledged starter would have been similar. Mize said he was told that the team needed the 40-man roster spot while being extra cautious. He is scheduled to throw a second bullpen session on July 30 after throwing 20-25 pitches on July 27 without issue. (Last updated: July 29)
OF Kerry Carpenter (lumbar spine stress fracture)
Expected return: August
Carpenter did a regular workout on the field at Comerica Park on July 26. His move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect his timeline for a return. (Last updated: July 26)
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long (left hip, right forearm)
Expected return: 2025
Gipson-Long underwent left hip labral repair surgery on July 9 after returning to Comerica Park for a checkup with doctors three months after his Tommy John surgery. He has been rehabbing daily in Lakeland, Fla. The Tigers transferred him to the 60-day injured list on May 7 to open a 40-man roster spot. (Last updated: July 9)