Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Light workout at Comerica Park
Rotowire
Perez (orbital) played light catch on the field at Comerica Park on Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
It's the first time Perez has done any baseball activities since he fractured an orbital bone in mid-June. Perez still has a long way to go in his rehab, and he's not eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list until mid-August.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Set to avoid surgery
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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Perez won't require surgery for the left orbital fracture he sustained June 16, but the outfielder lacks a clear timeline for a return, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports. "It's not, from what I understand, where it's going to be something long term," Hinch said of Perez's injury. "But it doesn't mean it heals itself fast. He's feeling better and better and reporting progress."
Perez suffered the injury prior to the Tigers' June 16 game in Houston, when he struck himself below the eye with an exercise band while taking part in a pregame workout. While he was fortunate to avoid surgery and isn't expected to have any long-term damage to his vision, Perez won't return from the injured list this weekend when first eligible, and his absence could very well extend past the All-Star break. The 26-year-old had been in the midst of a rough start to the season before suffering the injury, batting just .180 with seven home runs and three stolen bases over 53 games.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Heading to injured list
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The Tigers will place Perez (face) on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game versus the White Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Perez got hurt Tuesday in a weight room incident when he was struck in the face by a plyometric band. It's unclear what specific injury he is dealing with, but it will cost him at least the next week-plus of action. Trei Cruz will absorb Perez's spot on the Detroit roster.
Perez is likely unavailable off the bench for Wednesday's game in Houston after being struck in the face by a plyometric band in the weight room Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Perez is still being evaluated, but he will likely be fine by Friday following the Tigers' team off day Thursday. The switch-hitting outfielder is sporting a .594 OPS with seven home runs across 53 games for Detroit this season.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Pops seventh home run off bench
Rotowire
Appearing as a pinch hitter, Perez went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 11-0 win over the Twins.
Perez received a pinch-hit appearance against Minnesota catcher Alex Jackson in mop-up duty, and the former made the at-bat count with his seventh home run of the season. Five of those long balls have come in the last 13 games, though Perez is batting a modest .256 during the power surge and only .186 overall. The 26-year-old may struggle with consistency due to his low batting average, but he's providing fantasy value recently thanks to his ability to leave the yard.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Sitting again Wednesday
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Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Perez will head to the bench for the second day in a row while the Tigers roll out a starting outfield of Riley Greene, Zach McKinstry and Kerry Carpenter from left to right. After producing a .738 OPS over 100 games in 2025, Perez has taken a big step back this season, slashing just .176/.241/.333 across 166 plate appearances. Perez could be relegated to a part-time role until his bat begins to heat up.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Triples, drives in two Sunday
Rotowire
Perez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Mariners.
Batting ninth, Perez provided a jolt for the Tigers, which he's managed to do more frequently lately. Over his last 15 games, the outfielder is batting .316 with five extra-base hits, two stolen bases, seven RBI and 11 runs scored. It's still been a mostly down season for Perez, though his recent stretch at least gives fantasy managers some degree of optimism.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Homers again Thursday
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Perez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a solo home run in Thursday's 7-1 loss to the Angels.
Perez is now up to four home runs this season, with two of those long balls coming in the last three days. The 26-year-old outfielder still has an ugly .175/.241/.302 slash line overall, though he's showing some signs of life with the recent uptick in power. Perez should continue to see fairly regular playing time in the near term as Detroit deals with a number of injuries in the outfield.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Exiting starting lineup
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Perez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Guardians.
Perez will begin the contest on the bench after starting each of the last four games. Zach McKinstry will draw the start in right field for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Dropping out of lineup Wednesday
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Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Perez will ride the pine for the final game of the Tigers' homestand after he started in each of the previous five contests and went 4-for-18 with a walk, three stolen bases, three RBI and a run. With Perez taking a seat, Detroit will make room in the starting nine at designated hitter for the newly recalled Jace Jung, while Riley Greene, Matt Vierling and Kerry Carpenter fill out the outfield from left to right.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Swipes two bases Saturday
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Perez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Rangers.
Perez has been playing well lately with a .308 batting average across his last 10 games, to go along with a home run, three stolen bases, four RBI and five runs scored. With both Javier Baez (ankle) and Parker Meadows (arm) currently on the injured list, Perez has seen an uptick of playing time in the outfield, and he's been responding well so far. The 26-year-old could be worth a look in deeper fantasy formats, at least until Detroit gets healthier.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Goes deep in loss
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Perez went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.
Perez entered the game as a defensive replacement due to Javier Baez departing with an ankle injury, and the former got Detroit on the board with his home run in the top of the ninth inning. The 26-year-old outfielder has gone deep twice in 15 games since getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo, but he's done very little else offensively. Perez is slashing just .116/.156/.412, which limits his fantasy appeal, though he could see more starts in the short term if Baez has to miss time.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Delivers key home run
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Perez went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
Perez entered the game as a defensive replacement after Zach McKinstry exited following a collision, and the former didn't come to the plate until the eighth inning. Perez made the at-bat count, however, as the outfielder lifted his first home run of the year to break a 1-1 tie. It was a positive moment for Perez, though he still looks like a reserve option for the Tigers after getting recalled from Triple-A Toledo last week.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Missing out on start vs. RHP
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Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Since being called up from Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Perez has gone 0-for-10 with a walk in three starts. Perez will stay on the bench for a second straight game against a right-handed pitcher (Seth Lugo) and may be stuck in a short-side platoon role for Detroit until his bat begins to heat up.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Odd man out for roster spot
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The Tigers optioned Perez to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 26-year-old was the early favorite to begin the season as Detroit's primary right fielder, but he'll instead open the campaign in the minors after batting .158 (6-for-38) with no extra-base hits across 16 spring training games. Top prospect Kevin McGonigle is essentially the roster replacement for Perez, but it'll likely be Matt Vierling that benefits the most from the demotion. Perez had a .738 OPS in 383 plate appearances during the regular season last year and should still get a look with the Tigers at some point in 2026.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Out of Detroit lineup
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Perez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Miami.
Perez had started each of the previous 16 tilts, but he will get a day off as the Tigers open a series against the Marlins. Kerry Carpenter will patrol right field for Detroit.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Keeps rolling Sunday
Rotowire
Perez went 2-for-2 with a walk, two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox.
Perez is now riding an eight-game hitting streak, and this was his third multi-hit performance during the hot stretch. The 25-year-old outfielder also tallied his 38th RBI of the season Sunday, giving him a new career high in the category. Perez has already established a new career best with 12 home runs this year, and his current .816 OPS would be a new high-water mark as well, giving him plenty of momentum for the fantasy stretch run.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Collects three hits Tuesday
Rotowire
Perez went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 12-5 loss to the Mets.
Perez has started the series against New York by going 4-for-9 with a double, a home run and five RBI across two games. The 25-year-old outfielder is emerging as an effective offensive performer in his second MLB season with a .266/.323/.479 slash line across 79 contests overall, and he should continue to see regular playing time for the Tigers.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Blasts off Monday
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Perez went 1-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Monday's 10-8 loss to the Mets.
Perez launched a two-run home run in the third inning against New York southpaw Sean Manaea, his 12th long ball of the year, then added an RBI ground out in the eighth. The outfielder has already set a new career high in homers, and he needs just two more RBI to match the 37 RBI he tallied during the regular season as a rookie in 2024. Perez is most dangerous against lefties, as he's sporting a .979 OPS in those matchups this year, but he still has a respectable .719 OPS versus righties.
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Tigers' Wenceel Perez: Not ready to start Sunday
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Perez (foot) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
Perez will be on the bench for the first time since July 27 after fouling a ball off his right foot during Saturday's 7-4 loss. Manager A.J. Hinch said that the outfielder is already feeling better and could be available as a pinch hitter Sunday, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. With Matt Vierling (oblique) landing on the injured list Sunday, Javier Baez will cover center field in the series finale.
