Tigers’ Closer Will Vest Appears Fine After Injury Scare
DETROIT — A moment of concern during Sunday’s game turned out to be nothing serious for Tigers relief ace Will Vest.
Vest left the game in the eighth inning of Detroit’s 8–4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds after experiencing numbness in two fingers on his throwing hand. Thankfully, initial tests showed no major injury, and he could be available again as early as Tuesday.
The right-hander said he felt a sudden “zing” in his fingers and briefly lost sensation, prompting him to alert the team’s medical staff out of caution.
“It just felt strange,” Vest said Tuesday. “I’ve pitched through soreness before, but this wasn’t the usual kind of discomfort. I didn’t want to risk it, so I asked to get checked.”
The injury scare occurred after Vest uncorked a wild pitch that got past catcher Dillon Dingler. As he moved slowly toward the plate, Dingler, manager A.J. Hinch, and a trainer rushed out to assess him. He was promptly removed from the game.
Vest underwent tests later that day and received treatment on Monday. He reported improvement and resumed light throwing activities.
“I’ve had serious injuries before, like UCL stuff, so I wasn’t too panicked,” he said. “This just felt unfamiliar. So we played it safe.”
Vest emphasized the importance of distinguishing between typical pitching aches and unusual sensations. “You learn to push through soreness, but when something feels off — especially something new — you have to pay attention,” he added.
Vest has been a key figure in the Tigers’ bullpen this season, going 5–1 with a 1.83 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. He has tallied 12 saves while sharing closing duties with veteran Tommy Kahnle.
Drafted in 2017 by Detroit, Vest was briefly with the Mariners after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but returned later in 2021. Since then, he’s emerged as one of the Tigers’ most consistent arms.
Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed that Vest is considered “day to day.”
“He got that odd feeling in his fingers, and we immediately got him out,” Hinch said. “Thankfully, the tests came back clean. He’s already responding to treatment, so we’ll take it one day at a time.”
The Tigers are optimistic Vest avoided a significant issue and will return to action soon.
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