RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Justin Verlander is still working on a comeback to pitch for the Detroit Tigers in 2026.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced before their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Aug. 28, that starter Justin Verlander recently threw off a slope, calling Verlander's progression "close to a bullpen."
"It's hard to tell the people what it means, other than it's a step further than playing catch," Hinch said.
Verlander, who signed with the Tigers in the offseason expecting to play a big role in the rotation, pitched only once this season (on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks ) before hitting the injured list with a hamstring strain. The 43-year-old has had several stops and starts during his recovery, including announcing plans to retire at the end of the season on July 8.
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The three-time American League Cy Young Award winner has still been aiming to return, however, and Hinch said Verlander was "encouraged as I've ever heard him" in a discussion Friday.
"I sense that he is building towards something positive and that he's going to be able to make at least one appearance," Hinch said. "I'm sure he wants multiple to cap what is going to be a historic career. But right now we aren't to the point where we can pencil anything in, and I would guess even when we can, we're going to wait an extra time just to not have another setback like we have the last few times."
The previous update on Verlander came July 25 from Hinch. He said Verlander's continued rehab had been "really slow" but the team was still committed to having Verlander pitch in 2026 despite no firm timetable for his return.
Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in February with the Tigers, who selected him out of Old Dominion at No. 2 overall in the 2004 MLB Draft. He quickly helped them get to the 2006 World Series, and was one of the game's best pitchers during his first Tigers tenure (2005-17). A three-time American League Cy Young Award winner, Verlander won the World Series with Houston in 2017 and 2022.
Verlander's first and only start this season came March 30 when he allowed five earned runs in 3⅔ innings in Arizona. He landed on the injured list five days later with left hip inflammation and has been rehabbing ever since, suffering setbacks in bullpen sessions and three minor league rehab starts – the last one on June 10 for Triple-A Toledo.
Verlander later lamented the newest setback.
"I've always said that I want to play until the wheels fall off," Verlander said June 19 after being scratched from a planned start at Comerica Park for the Tigers on June 21. "Maybe they are falling off. I hope not. ... If I can't be healthy, and I continue to prove that I can't be healthy, that's something that I have to really evaluate."
A few weeks afterward, Verlander announced this season would be his last.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander 'a step forward' in injury rehab for Tigers
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