Jack Flaherty is finally on his way back to the Detroit Tigers, getting ready for a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo this Sunday, September 6th. This isn’t just any start; it’s a critical step for the 30-year-old right-hander as he battles back from right flexor tendon inflammation.
A Short Stint with Big Stakes
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch isn’t sugarcoating it: this is going to be a “short stint.” He said on Saturday that it’s “basically, like another live BP, but we’re going to have it in competition.” We’re talking maybe one inning, possibly “two ups,” Hinch told us. Flaherty’s been throwing live bullpens with the team, clocking fastball velocity around 93 mph. That’s a good sign, but the real test starts Sunday against actual competition. The stakes for his return, even in this limited capacity, are massive for the Tigers.
The Long Road Back to the Mound
Flaherty hasn’t seen game action since July 20th against the Chicago Cubs, landing on the injured list the very next day. Before the injury, he was 3-8 with a 4.59 ERA through 19 starts, pitching 86 1/3 innings in 2026. Hinch admitted back on Wednesday in Minneapolis that it’s “going to be really hard to build him all the way back up into that five, six, or seven-inning pitcher.” That’s the cold hard truth. However, Hinch also tossed out the idea of getting “more creative with him if the recovery continues.” What does “more creative” even mean at this point in the season?
This Toledo start is just the first domino. We’ll be watching closely to see how Flaherty looks and if his arm can truly hold up. The Tigers need pitching, and while a full five-inning Flaherty might be off the table, any contribution could be huge. Keep an eye on the box score from Toledo this Sunday; every pitch will matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply