Verlander completes five scoreless innings in rehab start for Toledo Mud Hens
The 43-year-old righthander threw 64 pitches in a 16-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs, with further assessment expected upon his return to Detroit on Wednesday.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander made his first start for Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens in nearly 11 years on Tuesday night, delivering five scoreless innings in a 16-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs. The 43-year-old righthander threw 64 pitches, including 48 strikes, allowing four hits and striking out three batters during the outing at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
Verlander is currently recovering from left hip inflammation, an injury that has limited him to a single appearance for the Tigers this season. He was placed on the injured list on April 4 following a start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30, where he allowed five earned runs in 3.2 innings. Since then, he has participated in bullpen sessions and simulated games to prepare for a return to game action.
Media reports indicate that Verlander’s fastball averaged 93.5 mph and topped out at 95.1 mph during the outing. He waited through an eight-run fifth inning for the Mud Hens to extend their lead before completing his rehab appearance. The Tigers’ top prospect Max Clark hit one of four home runs for the team, while Max Anderson recorded four hits and four runs batted in.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch stated that Verlander is expected to return to Detroit on Wednesday for a reassessment of his progress. It remains unclear how many additional rehab appearances the pitcher will require before being eligible to return to the major league roster. Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million deal to return to the Tigers this offseason.
Verlander previously spent 11-plus seasons with the Detroit Tigers, winning American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards in 2011 and making six All-Star Game appearances before being traded to the Houston Astros at the 2017 trade deadline. His previous stint with Toledo was brief, consisting of two starts in late May and early June 2015, where he pitched 8.1 innings with four runs allowed.
