DETROIT -- Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows underwent surgery on Monday for a broken left arm he sustained in Thursday’s outfield collision with Riley Greene.
Meadows suffered a fracture in the radius bone in his left forearm in the collision, as well as a concussion and a laceration that required stitches in the side of his mouth. The Tigers did not release a timetable for his return, but manager A.J. Hinch said Meadows is expected to return at some point this season.
“I don’t have an official timeline. I do expect him to be competitive again this season,” Hinch said on Tuesday afternoon. “I do know we’re talking multiple months [out], so it’s not anytime soon. It takes a long time for a broken bone in its own right to heal. It takes longer when surgery was involved and all the things they had to do. We’re optimistic that he’s going to get a full recovery. He’s already doing better on the concussion side and the stitches side, but the arm’s going to keep him out.”
The Tigers moved Meadows to the 60-day injured list on Monday, so the earliest he’d be eligible to return would be June 9. A typical radial fracture requires six to eight weeks to resume normal activity. Add on time to build up back to baseball activity, then more time for game readiness and a rehab assignment, and the potential timetable takes shape.
The Tigers have used a mix of Javier Báez and Matt Vierling in center with Meadows out. Expect more of that to come, potentially with Wenceel Pérez mixing in as well. Max Clark (Detroit’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall) continues to work in Triple-A Toledo, but he is not a consideration to be called up and fill in at this point.