The Detroit Tigers’ postseason push took an uneasy turn on Sept. 16 when manager AJ Hinch offered a candid update on Matt Vierling’s recovery. What was supposed to be a steady march back to the lineup has now been interrupted by continued medical evaluations, leaving the veteran’s status in limbo. For a player the Tigers had hoped could provide a late-season spark, the uncertainty comes at the worst possible time.
Hinch acknowledged that the team still hopes to have Vierling back before the season ends, but he admitted there are no guarantees. His careful phrasing carried the weight of a manager bracing for multiple outcomes — not limited to the possibility that one of his versatile utility players may not return at all this year.