Detroit Tigers injury update: Gio Urshela starts rehab; Mark Canha back in MLB lineup
Third baseman Gio Urshela is making his way back to the Detroit Tigers from a right hamstring strain.
The 32-year-old began his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Toledo. He needs to play multiple games with the Mud Hens, including Friday as the third baseman, but he could return to the Tigers at some point early next week.
"He's got a few days to play," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "He hasn't played in a while, so he's just getting his baseball stuff back. The better he plays, the faster he will be back, and obviously, health is the No. 1 concern."
NOT ON TIME: Tigers' Spencer Torkelson not a rookie anymore, but troubles now stem back to then
Urshela, a nine-year MLB veteran who signed a one-year, $1.5 million free agent contract last offseason, hasn't played for the Tigers since April 19, when he suffered the hamstring strain while running to first base against the Minnesota Twins.
He served as the designated hitter in Thursday's game with Triple-A Toledo against the St. Paul Saints, an affiliate of the Twins. (After Friday's game, Urshela won't play Saturday, but he will play Sunday.)
In Thursday's game, Urshela went 1-for-2 with one walk in three plate appearances. He grounded out in the first inning, walked on four pitches in the third inning and singled on a down-and-away cutter in the fourth inning.
Before the injury, Urshela hit .298 with one walk and 10 strikeouts in 18 games, spanning 58 plate appearances. Of his 17 hits, only two of them — a pair of doubles — went for extra bases.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Justyn-Henry Malloy update
Triple-A Toledo outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy hasn't played since last Friday due to an undisclosed injury, now missing six games in a row. He could return to the Mud Hens' lineup this weekend, possibly Sunday.
JEFF SEIDEL: Dreaming of more Tigers offense? Justyn-Henry Malloy would be my answer in Toledo
The Tigers, though, haven't provided any information about Malloy's health other than when Hinch described him as "banged up a little bit" after calling up Ryan Vilade — rather than Malloy — from Triple-A Toledo.
It's a lower-body injury.
On Wednesday, Malloy talked to Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel in Toledo.
"I feel great," Malloy said. "Just doing a lot of precautionary things. But I feel great."
Malloy, a corner outfielder, was removed from last Friday's game in the sixth inning following a groundout. He had a nine-game hitting streak when he got hurt. This season, he is hitting .279 with three home runs, 26 walks (tied for ninth among Triple-A hitters) and 34 strikeouts in 30 games.
Mark Canha returns
Outfielder Mark Canha returned to the Tigers' starting lineup after missing two games in a row with an upper respiratory infection. The 35-year-old slotted into the lineup as the designated hitter, batting third in the order, for Friday's game against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park.
"A lot of coughing," Canha said. "I wasn't sleeping very well in Cleveland. I had body aches and chills. It was a struggle-fest for like three days straight. ... It's better. I slept better the last two nights. No more chills or body aches. I'm back."
A BIG HIT: After two years of waiting, Ryan Vilade finally gets first MLB hit with Tigers
He drove home separately from the Tigers after Wednesday's series finale in Cleveland.
He felt better on Thursday's off day.
"Hopefully, that's the end of this virus that came through the clubhouse," Hinch said. "It went through coaches, players. We'd like to avoid any more, but Mark had it the worst and missed a few days. Hopefully, it's better."
Canha, a 10-year MLB veteran, is hitting .248 with five home runs, 17 walks and 28 strikeouts across 34 games in his first season as a Tiger.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers 3B Gio Urshela begins rehab assignment in Toledo
