ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Detroit Tigers infielder Andy Ibáñez, who has been on the injured list for more than two weeks, is ready to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo after passing his final non-game test.

Ibáñez is scheduled to play in his first game Thursday for the Mud Hens.

The 31-year-old completed base-running drills and all pregame activities before Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Tigers cleared Ibáñez for his rehab assignment after he finished the workout.

"I'm very excited," Ibáñez said. "I'm excited to be back again. ... I'm ready. I'm ready to be back with the team and help this team win some games."

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Ibáñez received a taste of live-game action Monday in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers' spring training complex. He took at-bats in an extended spring training game, but he didn't run the bases.

The Tigers placed Ibáñez on the injured list April 8 with a left hamstring strain.

"I am 100% ready to play," Ibáñez said. "It all depends on when A.J. (Hinch, manager) wants me to be back, but I feel ready."

Hinch wants to see Ibáñez play without any restrictions in rehab games.

"We need to get him in a game in the next couple of days, and then we'll factor him in," Hinch said. "I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We can't celebrate bringing him back until we actually get him into a game and get him to make sure that he's completely healthy and ready to go."

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Ibáñez hit .267 in 17 plate appearances across seven games before the injury.

Twelve of the 17 plate appearances were against left-handers, recording four hits and two sacrifice flies. The Tigers have missed his presence against lefties, especially as a pinch-hitter in late-game situations, across the past two-plus weeks.

Ibáñez has been hitting and fielding throughout most of his stint on the injured list, but only Tuesday did he officially pass his base-running tests. When Ibáñez wasn't facing live pitching, he stayed comfortable in the batter's box by tracking pitches during bullpen sessions.

Tracking pitches is a healthy obsession.

"Yeah, I love it," Ibáñez said.

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Spencer Torkelson sits

First baseman Spencer Torkelson wasn't in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays. The Tigers faced Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who throws a 94.4 mph four-seam fastball with a 41.7% whiff rate. He also features a wipeout slider with a 31.6% whiff rate.

In 2024, Torkelson is hitting just .154 against four-seam fastballs.

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"It's more about Wenceel (Pérez), to be honest," Hinch said. "Somebody has to sit if I'm going to play him in the outfield, and I want Parker (Meadows) to play, so it's a combination. It's a good day for Tork to have off."

It wasn't a pre-scheduled off day for Torkelson.

Torkelson, hitting .231 with a .620 OPS in 23 games this season, went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Monday's 7-1 win over the Rays. He is worth minus-5 defensive runs saved in 199⅓ innings at first base.

"I planned it last night when I didn't write him in the lineup," Hinch said.

Mark Canha, a veteran outfielder, started at first base for the second time in three games. He has been one of the most productive players for the Tigers, hitting .247 with a .875 OPS in 22 games.

Medical update

On Monday, right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (left groin strain, right forearm tightness) underwent Tommy John surgery — with the additional internal brace procedure — to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

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Infielder Gio Urshela has started modified baseball activities in his return from a right hamstring strain. He suffered the hamstring injury on Friday, landed on the injured list Saturday and isn't eligible to return until April 30.

On the farm

Shortstop Ryan Kreidler (right index finger fracture) underwent right index finger surgery April 11; infielder Eddys Leonard (left oblique strain) will be reevaluated to begin a baseball progression program next week.

Both Kreidler and Leonard are on the Triple-A Toledo injured list.

A pair of High-A West Michigan outfielders suffered injuries last week.

Seth Stephenson (left turf toe) injured his left big toe April 18 during a game and is undergoing further evaluation; Cole Turney (left elbow medial epicondylitis) injured his left elbow April 19 during pregame throws and needs further evaluation.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Andy Ibáñez 'very excited' to begin rehab assignment