LAKELAND, Fla. -- Parker Meadows’ tenuous status while waiting on a nerve in his upper arm to awaken now has a little more certainty. The Tigers center fielder will remain sidelined for at least the next four weeks on the recommendation of specialists, including Dr. Raj Singh, after undergoing a nerve conduction test.
The test indicated no damage to the musculocutaneous nerve, which has kept him sidelined since the first game of Spring Training last month. However, manager A.J. Hinch said, the nerve “is not firing at the level that we need it to, to advance [his baseball activity]. And so, what’s been prescribed is four more weeks of rest. In the meantime, he can continue to do everything that he’s doing.”
Meadows has been taking part in defensive drills, running and light hitting. Throwing is the only aspect of his game that has been completely limited. It’s also a vital part of his job.
“There’s nothing chronic. There’s nothing long-term. There’s nothing surgical,” Hinch said. “The doctors who have dealt with this as a career feel very confident that the full recovery is coming. It takes time.”
Thus, what was initially hoped to be a short-term hole in the middle of the Tigers outfield is now at least a month, likely longer given the time needed to get back up to baseball speed. That could put a different slant on the Tigers’ roster, though the team has publicly shown confidence that Wenceel Pérez can handle center field on more than a spot basis. Pérez made a pair of solid catches Friday night against the Yankees, including an over-the-shoulder grab to deep left-center against Austin Wells.
Still, the Tigers are waiting until next week before finalizing their Opening Day roster, possibly the day before Opening Day. With other clubs facing roster decisions and veteran outfielders in various camps as non-roster invites, the Tigers could look at their options differently for a longer-term absence than they did when Meadows could potentially return any day.
Javy in center
When Javier Báez made his first start at third base earlier this month, he mentioned that one of his dreams was to play in center field, a position he played briefly in the Minor Leagues and winter ball nearly 10 years ago. On Saturday, he got his chance, starting in center while Pérez had the day off.
It doesn’t necessarily make Báez part of the Tigers’ solution to filling Meadows’ void, but it’s part of the Tigers’ continuing effort to see where Báez can play besides shortstop.
“We talk about this as an option for him,” Hinch said. “We just want the reps. I mean, he’s an athlete. This has all been sort of in his mind. When I talked to him about it, he was gung-ho. As it has gotten closer, he realizes there’s a lot of responsibility in the biggest part of the field for him to deal with.”
Báez, using Bligh Madris’ glove, played eight innings in center Saturday without a ball hit his way. The only time he touched the ball was when a throw to second sailed to the outfield.
“I was working on positioning, pre-pitch,” Báez said. “I feel good right now. They didn’t hit any balls out there, but I did play outfield in the [simulated game] here and I got a couple good reads.
“I saw Kenta [Maeda] come in and I was like, ‘We’re getting a fly ball right here.’ But we didn’t. And then [Brenan] Hanifee came in throwing sinkers and I’m like, ‘There’s not going to be a fly ball here.’”
Chafin nearly immaculate
Not only did Andrew Chafin strike out the Braves in order in the ninth, he was a first-pitch ball away from an immaculate inning, needing just 10 pitches. His fastball, which had been struggling to reach 90 a week ago, topped out at 91, while his slider drew five whiffs in as many swings. It was exactly the outing he needed as he tries for a third stint in Detroit, this time as a non-roster invite.
“It was good to see him have the spin and be able to get below a bat,” Hinch said of Chafin.
Champions honored
The Tigers recognized the back-to-back Eastern League champion Erie SeaWolves with an on-field ring presentation for players as part of a ceremony honoring the organization’s Minor League accomplishments before Saturday’s Grapefruit League home finale against the Braves.
Among those getting a ring was No. 8 prospect Hao-Yu Lee, who was in Major League camp with the Tigers for most of Spring Training.
Also honored were the Rookie-level Florida Complex League champions as well as the Tigers’ Minor League award winners. Detroit's No. 9 prospect Jaden Hamm received an award for Pitcher of the Year for his work at High-A West Michigan. Infielder and No. 3 prospect Kevin McGonigle was recognized for Player of the Year.