Detroit Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull completed a 21-pitch bullpen session, mixing fastballs, sliders and changeups, before Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park.
It marked the first “real bullpen” in his throwing program. The 30-year-old, who missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, is recovering from neck discomfort, which has kept him on the injured list since May 7.
“The neck feels fine,” Turnbull said, “but it’s building up arm strength and figuring out the timing. Doesn’t feel too bad.”
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In the past two days, the Tigers got their best two starting pitchers back from the injured list: left-handers Tarik Skubal and Eduardo Rodriguez started Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, against the Athletics.
Skubal underwent flexor tendon surgery in mid-August 2022, missing about 11 months; Rodriguez suffered a left index finger pulley rupture in late-May, missing about one month.
“We’re getting back to what we feel like is normal,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I know not all of our guys are going to be healthy at the same time with some of the diagnosis and some of the realities, but it’s nice to be back with the guy (Rodriguez) that started on Opening Day and provided a ton of innings and stability and leadership for us.”
Skubal needed five rehab starts, while Rodriguez needed just one rehab. Turnbull, who began the season in the rotation, is expected to return at some point after the All-Star break.
The exact timeline for Turnbull’s return is unknown.
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Once Turnbull begins a rehab assignment, the number of innings he pitches in his first rehab start will reveal a rough idea of how quickly he could advance. For example, Skubal pitched one inning in his first rehab start, but Rodriguez pitched into the fifth inning his lone rehab start.
“Probably somewhere in between,” Hinch said of Turnbull’s timetable, compared to Skubal and Rodriguez. “Tarik had surgery, so that would put him in a different bucket altogether. But I don’t know what that means until he gets back on the mound and faces hitters. It’s somewhere in between those two.”
Whenever Turnbull returns, he will need to prove he can join the starting rotation again, thus avoiding a transition to the bullpen. Remember, the Tigers optioned Turnbull to Triple-A Toledo — due to a 7.26 ERA with 15 walks and 24 strikeouts over 31 innings in seven starts — before he disclosed the neck injury to the organization.
The neck injury reversed the demotion and sent him to the injured list.
“I think that’s just up to the protocol that they give me,” Turnbull said about his throwing program. “I do what I’m told with that. There’s not really a rush or go slow. I just have to take the steps.”
Before Wednesday’s bullpen, Turnbull completed a touch-and-feel bullpen Saturday at Comerica Park while the Tigers were playing the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. He continues to increase his volume and intensity with each session.
“It’s nice to get close to feeling like a real pitcher again,” Turnbull said.
‘You don’t know what you’re missing’
Rodriguez joined the Tigers to start Wednesday against the Athletics. Right-handed reliever Garrett Hill was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Rodriguez on the 26-man active roster.
Before the injury, Rodriguez posted a 2.13 ERA with 16 walks and 67 strikeouts over 67⅔ innings in 11 starts.
“I want him to get through this first game back feeling as good as he feels right now,” Hinch said. “If he pitches the way he did on rehab assignment, the way he bounced back, then we’re in good shape in the rotation.”
The 30-year-old would have been the Tigers’ representative in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, but he sustained his injury at the wrong time. The injuries to Rodriguez and center fielder Riley Greene opened the door for right-hander Michael Lorenzen to get the All-Star call for the first time in his nine-year career.
Rodriguez, who has a 4.02 ERA in his eight-year career, has never been selected to an All-Star Game.
“When we lost him, you don’t know what you’re missing until you don’t have that,” Hinch said. “Those innings were huge for us, and his performance was great. He likely would have been at the All-Star Game had he not gotten hurt. That type of pitcher is hard to replace.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.