CHICAGO (AP) — The Detroit Tigers activated Gleyber Torres from the 10-day injured list on Monday after the veteran infielder was sidelined for a month with another oblique strain.
Torres was in the starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series at the Chicago Cubs, batting second and playing second base. It was his first major league game since June 15.
“I love getting Gleyber back, and he feels good,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “And that’s always a good start. I think we’re a different team with him in the lineup, and then certainly the top of our lineup, it just gets longer.”
The 29-year-old Torres also went on the IL in May with and missed time last year with the same injury. The three-time All-Star is batting .280 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 43 games with Detroit this season.
Catcher Eduardo Valencia was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday to make room for Torres. Valencia hit .417 with two homers and three RBIs in six games in his first big league action.
Detroit (46-53) had won 11 of 15 going into the series at Chicago. It is facing an important stretch of the season as it looks to make a case to keep the team together at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
“I joke about, you know, that we’ve been playing Game 7 since May,” Hinch said. “I mean, May was a miserable month. Everybody knows it. It put us in a really deep hole, and we’ve been steadily climbing out of that for the better part of two months.
“So we’re taking it sort of with open arms that it’s part of our identity right now that we’ve got to block out all the noise of what’s ahead in the next few weeks and get to winning games.”
Mize is banged up and other Tigers injury news
Right-hander Casey Mize is day to day after he pitched just 3 1/3 innings in at the Los Angeles Angels. Mize has a bruised left wrist after he was struck by a comebacker, and he also experienced groin tightness.
“The initial feedback is very positive,” Hinch said. “He felt good coming to the ballpark. He’s optimistic with where he’s at.”
Left-hander Framber Valdez is lined up to pitch on Tuesday in his first start since July 9. He has been on the bereavement list because of the death of a grandmother.
“She was super supportive,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “She was always cheering for me all the time. … She’s the one who raised us, she’s the one who supports us, and she’s the one who always was rooting for me back and forth, no matter what situation I was in.”
Right-hander Jackson Jobe pitched three innings in a rehab appearance with Double-A Erie on Sunday. Jobe is coming back from in 2025.
Hinch said infielder Javier Báez is slated to begin a rehab stint with Class A Lakeland on Tuesday. Báez has been sidelined by .
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