After missing the first 51 games of the 2025 season, Matt Vierling is back in Detroit.
The Detroit Tigers got some welcome good news: Matt Vierling has been activated from the 10-day injured list. To make room, left-hander Sean Guenther was optioned to Triple-A Toledo — a tidy bit of roster shuffling announced by the club’s PR account on X.
So, what can fans expect now that the 27-year-old spark plug is healthy again?
How Vierling looked on rehab
Not exactly video-game numbers, but the pair of long balls suggests the hamstring (and his swing) passed the stress test. The strikeouts? Chalk those up to shaking off rust — and facing a steady diet of breaking stuff from Triple-A arms desperate to impress.
A quick refresher on Vierling’s MLB résumé
Season Team G AVG HR RBI OPS WAR*
2023 DET 134 .261 10 44 .717 1.5
2024 DET 144 .257 16 57 .735 2.9
*WAR via FanGraphs through 2024.
Bottom line: he’s quietly become a league-average bat with above-average versatility, capable of playing all three outfield spots and moving around the infield.
Why his return matters right now
Defensive flexibility: Manager A.J. Hinch can mix-and-match lineups without burning his DH spot.
Clubhouse energy: Teammates rave about Vierling’s work ethic and “let’s-go” vibe — an underrated asset in a 162-game grind.
The Bottom Line
Matt Vierling’s rehab stats won’t win any batting titles, but the Tigers didn’t activate him for Toledo numbers. They need his big-league versatility, gap power, and contagious energy — and they need it now. Expect Hinch to slot him right back into the batting order and let the chips (and maybe a few extra-base hits) fall where they may.