Kerry Carpenter injury update: What Detroit Tigers’ outfielder had to say about hamstring
LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter isn’t worried about his health.
The 26-year-old slugger suffered a left hamstring strain in Thursday’s workout when he rounded second base while running the bases. He was initially scheduled to play in Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener, but the mild hamstring strain forced him out of the lineup.
“I didn’t want to get (an injury) out of the way at all,” Carpenter said before Saturday’s game, “but now is the best time it could possibly be. We’ll get it good. It’s going to be fine.”
For Saturday’s game, the Tigers started Akil Baddoo in right field, Matt Vierling in center field and Justyn-Henry Malloy in left field. The Tigers put two outfielders on the bench: left fielder Justice Bigbie and center fielder Ryan Vilade. Ben Malgeri, a 24-year-old who also plays in the outfield, joined the Tigers from minor-league camp.
Carpenter hit .278 with 20 home runs, 32 walks and 115 strikeouts across 118 games last season.
“I hate that guys get dinged up at the beginning of camp,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday’s workout. “He felt a little bit of some soreness, so we pulled him out. Precautionary until we get him further evaluated.”
It’s unclear how many games Carpenter will miss.
“We’ll see how long it goes,” Hinch said.
Upcoming starters
For Tuesday’s split-squad, right-hander Casey Mize will start against the Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland and right-hander Matt Manning will start against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.
Everyone in camp will play Tuesday because of the split-squad.
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