Labor Day week in Detroit has brought a whirlwind of roster activity, hopeful returns, and emotional moments for the Tigers as they navigate the final month of the 2025 MLB season. With the postseason picture still murky, the team is buoyed by the arrival of rehabbing players, the call-up of a promising arm, and the resilience of veterans working their way back from injury.
Monday, September 1, saw the Tigers clubhouse at Comerica Park bustling with familiar faces returning from the injured list. Outfielder Parker Meadows, right-hander José Urquidy, and reliever Alex Cobb were all back in town before Detroit opened a crucial three-game set against the New York Mets. Manager A.J. Hinch, ever the strategist, provided updates on the progress of these key players—and the status of others still sidelined—as the Tigers look to strengthen their roster for the stretch run.
"Parker has been pretty good," Hinch said of Meadows, who has been rehabbing a right quad strain. "He said this is the best his body has felt. We're going series by series, but he's playing with freedom." Meadows, 25, hasn’t played for the Tigers since July 27 but has completed five games on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, hitting .250 with four walks and 10 strikeouts in 20 plate appearances. His defensive effort, Hinch noted, has been a strong indicator that he’s feeling healthy. "He's getting after it on defense, which is really the tell-tale that he is feeling good. The timing on the offensive stuff will happen, and sometimes, it doesn't even happen in Triple-A, it happens when he comes back to the big leagues, but the all-out effort in mental freedom of being able to run after balls in center is more important."
Meadows is scheduled to play center field again on Wednesday, September 3, marking his sixth rehab game. From there, the Tigers will decide whether to activate him for the weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, or to give him a bit more time to get his timing back at the plate. The matchup against White Sox left-hander Martín Pérez on Friday could mean Meadows, a left-handed hitter, is more likely to be activated for Saturday’s game instead.
The Tigers’ pitching staff is also on the mend. Right-hander José Urquidy, who signed with Detroit during spring training while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, impressed in his latest outing for Toledo on Tuesday, September 2. He tossed three scoreless innings on 39 pitches—his eighth rehab appearance, and fourth with the Mud Hens. Urquidy’s fastball averaged 90.9 mph, a couple of ticks below his 2023 average, but his mix of fastballs, changeups, curveballs, sweepers, and sinkers kept hitters off balance. Hinch, who managed Urquidy during their Houston Astros days, knows what the righty is capable of when healthy. "I have a long history with him, so I have a long memory of when he's at his best. I hate to say it's always pinpoint, but it's oftentimes pinpoint control, where he can throw whatever pitch he wants. His misses have been a little bit more exaggerated than normal, but his stuff has played well."
Urquidy, 30, is scheduled for another rehab outing before Sunday, September 7, opening the door for a possible activation for Detroit’s series opener against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, September 9. The Mazatlán, Mexico, native has thrown 14 2/3 innings over his rehab assignment, a crucial step after missing all of 2024 with a forearm injury. Tigers fans will remember Urquidy’s postseason heroics with Houston, where he became the first Mexican-born pitcher to win multiple World Series games and played a vital role in their 2022 championship run.
The bullpen carousel continues as well. Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald, acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the July 31 trade deadline, is inching closer to a return after a right shoulder strain. Sewald completed a live batting practice session at the Tigers’ spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida, on Monday, September 1, and rejoined the team by Wednesday. A rehab assignment is expected next, but Sewald won’t be eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until September 10. The veteran has been limited to just 15⅓ innings across 18 games this season, but his experience could be invaluable if the Tigers make a late push.
Outfielder Matt Vierling, meanwhile, is progressing slowly from a left oblique strain. Vierling, 28, hasn’t played since August 9, and multiple injuries have limited him to just 31 games in 2025. "Slow but surely," Hinch said, describing Vierling’s recovery. The team is being cautious, as a setback could end his season. "Given the time of year and the nature of the injury, where a setback would likely end his season, we have to be very careful. Slow and steady process is still progress." The hope is for Vierling to return by the end of September.
In the midst of these rehab updates, the Tigers made another roster move ahead of Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets. Right-hander Keider Montero was called up from Triple-A Toledo, replacing Chris Paddack, who was placed on the bereavement list following the death of a family member. Paddack, who made his first relief appearance since 2023 on Tuesday, September 2, will be away from the team for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven, but he expects to return after three days—potentially for the second game of the upcoming White Sox series. "We're human beings," Paddack said following Tuesday’s game. "I want to be there for my family. A.J. (Hinch) and them, they're giving me three days to go spend time with my family and be there. Hopefully, that's a little reset for me, to be able to go back home and hug the loved ones. The reason why I play this game is for them."
Montero, 24, brings a mix of promise and experience to the bullpen. In 2025, he’s posted a 4.66 ERA with 25 walks and 53 strikeouts across 73⅓ innings in 15 games (nine starts) for the Tigers, and a 5.91 ERA in 18 games (eight starts) with Toledo. Montero last pitched on August 28 for the Mud Hens, throwing 20 pitches in relief. Hinch plans to use Montero in a variety of roles, from bulk innings to short bursts out of the pen. "We're going to use him when needed," Hinch said. "Certainly, he's stretched out do anything from the bulk relieving to a one-inning burst to any role."
Tuesday’s loss to the Mets also saw Paddack flash his trademark changeup, entering in the sixth inning with a runner on and one out. He threw three changeups, recording two whiffs—including a strikeout of Francisco Lindor—and inducing a half-swing chopper from Brett Baty. Despite the tough result for the team, Paddack’s outing showed glimpses of the form that could make him a valuable bullpen piece down the stretch.
As the Tigers prepare to face the White Sox and then the Yankees, the roster shuffle continues. The return of Meadows, Urquidy, Sewald, and Vierling could provide a timely boost, while Montero’s call-up and Paddack’s resilience highlight the human side of the game. For now, Detroit’s playoff hopes remain alive, hinging on health, depth, and a little bit of September magic.
