The Tigers called Parker Meadows back up from Triple-A on Friday, optioning Akil Baddoo to Toledo in the corresponding move. Meadows marked his return to the majors with a solo home run in the Tigers’ 5-4 win over the Reds on Friday, showing promise that the 24-year-old outfielder can bring his Triple-A success to the big leagues. After batting only .096/.224/.219 in his first 85 plate appearances this year, Detroit sent Meadows back to Triple-A on May 7. In Toledo, he responded with a .298/.394/.511 slash line in 221 plate appearances over two months.
“A little mechanical adjustment” made the difference, as Meadows told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that keeping his hands up allowed him to maintain a more level swing. He explained, “it’s hard to hit a rising fastball when your swing is uphill.” While Meadows still struggled with breaking balls in Toledo, his improved ability to catch up with high velocity could help him produce closer to league-average offense in the majors. Given his top-tier defensive skills, this might be enough for him to secure a regular center fielder position. As the Tigers fall out of the playoff race, the rest of the season could be crucial for Meadows to prove he is a key part of Detroit’s future plans.
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Yoan Moncada played in just 11 games before a left adductor strain sent him to the injured list. However, the White Sox third baseman is set to return to action in the Arizona Complex League next week. Sox manager Pedro Grifol told MLB.com and other media that Moncada will be limited to DH duties for now, with an eye on returning to the majors by the end of July. Moncada’s strain was initially given a 3-to-6 month recovery timeline, but it seems his season is no longer in jeopardy. Moncada is in the final guaranteed year of his five-year, $70M contract, and since Chicago is unlikely to exercise its $25M club option for 2025, this could be his final stretch with the White Sox.
Alex Kirilloff has been on the Twins’ 10-day injured list since June 13 due to a back strain. Kirilloff told the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale that part of his discomfort was due to a nerve issue. After receiving a cortisone shot and working on core-strengthening exercises, he hopes to start taking swings soon. Injuries have limited Kirilloff to 249 games since his MLB debut in 2021 due to a shoulder surgery, two wrist surgeries, and now this back problem.
In other Twins injury news, relievers Brock Stewart and Justin Topa each threw 20-pitch sessions recently (Stewart a live batting practice, Topa a bullpen session). Stewart has missed over two months due to right shoulder tendinitis, but manager Rocco Baldelli said Stewart isn’t far from a minor league rehab assignment.
