After missing time due to a nerve problem in his upper right arm, Meadows ignited the Detroit Tigers in his season debut. He got two singles, three runs scored, and a fantastic grab in Detroit’s 13-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox while playing center field and leading off once more.
Kerry Carpenter, the designated hitter, stated, “I think I speak for everybody when I say that we missed watching him play baseball, especially for us,” “He’s super special.”
Meadows was activated off the 60-day disabled list by the Tigers, who are currently leading the big leagues. Following Sunday’s 1-0 victory against Kansas City, right-hander Ryan Cusick was assigned, while infielder/outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy was optioned to Class AAA Toledo.
“I didn’t sleep much last night, just thinking about the day,” Meadows stated. “Excited to be here.”
In his first game back, Meadows immediately got to work. For the final out of the first, he made a diving grab that denied Andrew Benintendi (Arkansas Razorbacks) a single that would have scored a run.
In the fourth, Gleyber Torres singled and Meadows doubled to score. In the sixth, he scored on Torres’ grounder to shortstop and sped around the bases on a leadoff triple. In a three-run eighth inning, he also walked and scored.
“What he was able to do there at the top of the order and the defense that we know he brings out there and just what he’s able to do, it’s good to have him back out there,” Jack Flaherty, the Tigers pitcher, said.
On a throw from center field on February 22, Meadows sustained an injury during Detroit’s spring training opener. Starting on May 21, he played in eight minor league rehab games, hitting.259 with five RBI and a home run.
“He’s a glue guy, and the guys love him,” stated A.J. Hinch, manager of the Tigers. “We have missed him, because he performed for us at a very high level on both sides of the ball. We’re better with him, but our men have done a great job sort of picking up the pieces and adjusting to life without him.”
In 82 games for Detroit last season, Meadows, 25, hit.244 with nine home runs and twenty-eight RBI. Additionally, he helped the Tigers advance to the AL division series by hitting.269 (7 for 26) in seven postseason games.
When Meadows was originally injured, he didn’t anticipate how long it would take him to return to the majors.
“It was tough, but just put my head down and worked every day,” he stated. “We have an excellent training team here. They got me right, so keep a nice head on my shoulders.”
Attempting a few strong throws during his rehabilitation period was one of Meadows’ final actions before returning to Detroit.
He said, “At first it was a little eh,” However, it felt better the more tosses I made. Now it feels nice.
The adaptable Tigers, who are 22-9 in their previous 31 games, now have another option with Meadows back.
In the eighth inning of the first game of a four-game series against Chicago, Javier Baez, who had played a strong center field while Meadows was out, moved from shortstop to second base. Baez will travel about the diamond, according to Hinch.
“Don’t take the outfield glove (and) throw it away,” I instructed Javy. “You will still require it,” Hinch said.
