Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter will miss at least 10 days after suffering a left shoulder sprain during Saturday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
The injury occurred when Carpenter crashed into the right field wall while attempting to prevent Bobby Witt Jr.’s inside-the-park home run during Kansas City’s 5-1 win over Detroit.
To replace Carpenter on the roster, Detroit promoted third baseman Gage Workman from their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo. The Tigers created space on their 40-man roster by moving veteran pitcher Justin Verlander from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list due to left hip inflammation. Verlander will be eligible to return on May 31.
The 28-year-old Carpenter remained in Saturday’s contest after the first-inning collision but was removed two innings later due to the AC joint sprain.
“Initial tests have shown no structural damage, but he has inflammation,” manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. “And he’s obviously really sore.”
This season, Carpenter has posted a .216 batting average with six home runs and 17 RBIs across 37 games.
Carpenter previously dealt with a right shoulder injury in 2023 when he was hurt while making a spectacular catch to rob a home run.
Since joining Detroit in 2022, Carpenter has compiled a .264 career batting average with 76 home runs, 210 RBIs, a .299 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage over 403 regular-season contests.
In postseason action, he has hit .275 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 15 playoff appearances.
“Carp’s injury could be quick,” Hinch said. “It depends on the inflammation and how fast we can get him back to swinging freely. But in the meantime, we’re going to need to pick it up collectively.”
Detroit drafted Workman in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft from Arizona State, where he played alongside current Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Workman appeared in 12 games earlier this year as a Rule 5 Draft selection with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, batting .188 before returning to Detroit’s organization.
The 26-year-old Workman has been dominant at Triple-A Toledo this season, hitting .358 with four home runs, 28 RBIs, 15 doubles, a .413 on-base percentage and .590 slugging percentage.
“Gage has been killing it in Triple-A,” Hinch said. “He’s been a candidate this whole time to come up and join us when we’ve had these openings. Some have been short spurts. Gage has kept performing and kept playing.
“He’s made some improvements on defense, on his first step in getting to balls. He has crushed Triple-A pitching pretty much all season and has earned his right to be on a callup list whenever the opportunity came open.”
