Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez leaves game with left abdominal tightness
The Detroit Tigers could be without one of their rookies for the foreseeable future.
Wenceel Pérez, a 24-year-old outfielder, exited Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park before the bottom of the fourth inning, suffering an injury while swinging in the top of the inning.
Pérez left the game with left abdominal tightness.
"Pretty concerned," manager A.J. Hinch told reporters in San Francisco after Friday's 3-2 loss. "He didn't swing the last time up because he felt it during that at-bat. He came to the dugout and said he needed to come out. ... It doesn't look great."
AS ONE RETURNS: Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter begins rehab assignment in Triple-A Toledo
Before departing, Pérez struck out looking in the top of the fourth inning. He swung at just one of the six pitches in his second matchup with Giants left-hander Robbie Ray. He also drew a five-pitch walk without swinging at any pitches in the second inning.
The left abdominal injury occurred on the lone swing in the fourth inning, when Pérez — batting from right side of the plate — fouled a 93 mph fastball from Ray. After swinging, Pérez immediately switched the bat from his left hand to his right hand, then touched his left side with his left hand. He refused to swing at the next pitch, even though it was a fastball down the middle, for a called-third strikeout.
Pérez, a switch-hitter with a contact-first approach, has a .242 batting average with nine home runs, 27 walks and 76 strikeouts across 97 games in the 2024 season, posting a .684 OPS. His 92 wRC+ ranks tied for 22nd among 41 qualified rookies.
He owns a .143 batting average with four walks and 13 strikeouts in his last 15 games, despite a couple of clutch hits.
It's the first season of Pérez's MLB career.
MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers switch-hitter Wenceel Pérez fulfills childhood dream by making MLB debut
In Friday's game, Pérez received a rare start in center field, which hadn't happened since June 1. After the injury, Bligh Madris entered the game as the right fielder, while Ryan Vilade shifted from right field to center field.
Pérez was evaluated from the team doctors from the Giants during Friday's game.
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 OF Wenceel Pérez leaves game with abdominal tightness
