AJ Hinch Outlines What Reese Olson Must Show Before Returning to Tigers
With the Detroit Tigers facing a shortage of pitchers—especially following Jackson Jobe’s season-ending Tommy John surgery—getting Reese Olson healthy again has become even more crucial. Olson, currently recovering from a finger injury, has started his rehab stint in the minors. He pitched 2 2/3 innings for the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday, marking an encouraging step toward a return to the Tigers’ rotation.
However, Tigers manager AJ Hinch emphasized that there are specific benchmarks Olson must meet before being cleared to rejoin the big-league team—most importantly, improving his pitching endurance.
“He didn’t use his changeup, and that was intentional,” Hinch told MLB.com. “Our goal is to build his stamina, so getting his pitch count into the 40s and 50s was key. Getting him up and down for three innings was also part of the plan. He’s comfortable with his other pitches, but even near the end of that outing, you could see why building up his endurance is still necessary. Overall, it was a positive step—nearly exactly what we hoped to see.”
In Saturday’s outing, Olson allowed two runs on two hits and recorded four strikeouts. While not flawless, the performance was promising for someone making his first appearance after a layoff.
There’s no confirmed date for Olson’s return to the Tigers’ roster, but given his progress, it might not be far off. His comeback would be a timely boost for a Detroit team that has been among MLB’s top performers this season but still faces depth issues in the pitching staff. While Olson’s return will help, the team is also expected to pursue additional arms as the trade deadline approaches, especially with their sights set on a deep postseason run.
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