Matt Vierling is back, and the Tigers are getting reinforcements at the right time

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DETROIT — Standing at his locker, Matt Vierling took off his cap and ran his hand through his hair.

“Just seeing how well the boys were doing, everything like that, you just want to be a part of it,” he said. “It makes you work even harder throughout rehab.”

Vierling was standing here, finally an active member of the Detroit Tigers, the first in a line of reinforcements coming to help a first-place team at an opportune time.

Back in spring training, it felt fair to fret when Vierling strained his right rotator cuff, when Parker Meadows had a nerve issue pop up in his throwing arm and when Wenceel Pérez hurt his back near the conclusion of camp. The Tigers were down three players who all played important roles in last season’s playoff run. All three were capable of playing center field. The injuries left the Tigers in a bind. Ryan Kreidler made the Opening Day roster and started in center. The malaise appeared to weaken a lineup theoretically in need of all the help it could get.

Instead, the Tigers have thrived while their injured brethren worked their way back. At 33-18 entering Friday, they are the class of the American League more than a quarter through the season.

Vierling was finally activated from the injured list Friday after a lengthy rehab assignment, one where the Tigers were diligent in building back his throwing arm and having him make game-speed plays from both the outfield and third base.

“Three months felt like three years,” Vierling said.

Matt Vierling last season was worth 2.6 fWAR for the Tigers. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

Long as the entire process was, the end of Vierling’s rehab assignment was a whirlwind. The Tigers sent their trio of injured players from Triple-A Toledo to Class-A Lakeland earlier in the week because of weather concerns in the Midwest. They wanted to ensure the players got the necessary reps before being activated. That led to all three Tigers boarding a short-notice commercial flight and heading to Florida for two games with the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

“You go through all the rehab games and everything like that, you kind of relive those minor-league experiences again,” Vierling said. “It really is a privilege to be up here. Definitely a new sense of gratitude to be like, ‘Hey, everything can get taken away from you real quick.’”

Vierling returned to Detroit on Friday morning while Meadows and Pérez continued their rehab assignments in Triple A. Both Pérez and Meadows could also rejoin the Tigers in short order. It’s also possible Pérez gets activated, then optioned once Meadows returns. Regardless of how it shakes out, this cavalry could be coming at a needed time. The Tigers rested left-handed hitters Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry on Friday against Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi. Manager A.J. Hinch admitted some of the team’s most-used players are running on fumes.

“Physically, we’re not in a great place, just to be candid,” Hinch said. “We got guys dealing with a lot of different things. We got to balance short-term needs and long-term, running this race. They’re all fine. McKinstry has played in almost every game the entire season. Riley, it always feels like he’s right on that edge of dealing with something. We’re just trying to be smart with what we’re doing and where we’re at.”

With fresh faces also come complicated questions. Friday, the Tigers optioned left-handed reliever Sean Guenther to clear room for Vierling. Outfielders Akil Baddoo and Justyn-Henry Malloy seem most susceptible to future roster shuffling.

Otherwise, the Tigers have so far been reluctant to lay out how exactly the roster will function with Vierling and others back in the mix. The simplest answer: Who knows? Wait and see. That largely lines up with how the Tigers operate — constant mixing and matching, different lineups every night.

Vierling will spend some time at third base. He’ll also play the outfield, which could lead to more McKinstry in the infield, which could have ripple effects elsewhere.

“I expect the normal rotation,” Vierling said. “I can’t tell you what it’s gonna be, where it’s gonna be, but hopefully it’s somewhere.”

Once Meadows returns, Javier Báez would theoretically move back into the infield on most nights, playing third base, shortstop and perhaps second. There will be many moving parts, and the Tigers aren’t chaining themselves to any rigid structure.

Vierling last season was worth 2.6 fWAR. Meadows had an .840 OPS after Aug. 1. Pérez was a pesky switch-hitter who came up big for the Tigers in a variety of big spots.

But all these players will be facing major-league pitching daily for the first time since October. Vierling admitted there’s a nervousness that comes with rejoining a first-place team. You don’t want to mess with what’s working.

“It’s a natural thought to have when you come into a situation where everyone is just on fire and playing great,” Vierling said. “You don’t fight off those feelings. You just think it’s a natural thought. … I’m coming here to play my game and help my team win.”

At the same time, this season is long. From the first day of spring training, the Tigers have preached the importance of using the entire 40-man roster and beyond. Last season, no player embodied the Tigers’ style quite like Vierling. He played all over the diamond, even made a spot appearance at first base in the playoffs. He dirtied his jersey, ran the bases and found small ways to contribute.

The Tigers are built on that model. Without Vierling, they’ve found other players to bolster the lineup. With him back, and others soon to join, they hope the cavalry is coming at the right time.

“We’re getting closer and closer to a very versatile team that we were hoping to have,” Hinch said. “Our guys have done a real good job to date. But adding Matty to the mix is a big upgrade.”

(Top photo: Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

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