Kerry Carpenter was placed on the Tigers’ 10-day injured list earlier this week with what was described as lumbar spine inflammation, but the issue has unfortunately proven to be more serious. The club announced on Friday that Carpenter “is currently completing rehab for a lumbar spine stress fracture,” with no recovery timeline provided. Manager A.J. Hinch could have more details during his pregame chat with media later on Saturday, but it would appear as though Carpenter will be sidelined for at least a month, and potentially quite longer depending on the severity of the fracture.
It’s tough news for the 26-year-old Carpenter, who has quietly been Detroit’s best hitter since his MLB debut in the 2022 season. After hitting .273/.334/.474 with 26 homers in 572 plate appearances in 2022-23, Carpenter has taken it up another level this year, with a hefty 154 wRC+ from a slash line of .283/.342/.572 and eight home runs in his first 163 PA.
Carpenter’s production has again stood out within a Tigers lineup that has struggled to generate consistent offense. Matt Vierling and Wenceel Perez have earned more playing time due to their solid numbers, while among the players projected to be regulars going into the season, Riley Greene and Mark Canha are the only other batters besides Carpenter who have hit well. However, Canha’s status is also a question mark after he was scratched from Friday’s lineup due to soreness in his left hip.
