Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with a right shoulder strain that he reported during his latest bullpen session.
He might not pitch again until 2026.
But the Tigers are leaving the door open for Olson to return in the 2025 postseason.
“We have some more tests scheduled for tomorrow before we can fully announce everything that happened,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Monday, July 28, referencing further evaluation set for Tuesday, July 29, “but the MRI revealed enough to rule him out for the regular season.”
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Olson, 25, had a 3.15 ERA with 25 walks and 65 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings in 13 starts in the 2025 season. When healthy, Olson proved himself as the Tigers’ No. 2 starter behind reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
He has a 3.60 ERA in his three-year MLB career, spanning 56 games (53 starts).
Earlier in 2025, Olson missed nearly two months with right ring finger inflammation — sidelined from mid-May to early July. He also missed nearly three months with a right shoulder strain in 2024 — out from late-July to mid-September.
It’s been two years in a row with a right shoulder injury.
“I feel for Reese,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I see his routines. I see him work. I see him throw. I see him dominate. … There’s no reason why he is getting hit with the injury bug more than anybody else. It’s a tough blow to a rotation that sets up great.”
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Olson made his last start Thursday, July 24, in an
11-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 5⅔ innings.
He threw 95 pitches.
Olson then completed a bullpen session Saturday, July 26, which is when he reported right shoulder discomfort. An MRI revealed it was a shoulder strain.
“I don’t know what comes of the rest of the year for him,” Hinch said, when asked about Olson’s postseason availability. “I think that’s what the next couple of days are for.”
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After Olson’s injury, the Tigers traded for right-hander Chris Paddack from the Minnesota Twins before Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Comerica Park.
The Paddack trade — sparked by the Olson injury — happened just three days before the trade deadline, scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31.
Paddack, who has a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts, replaces Olson in the starting rotation. For now, the five-man rotation is comprised of Paddack, Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Troy Melton.
Entering Monday, the Tigers’ rotation ranked sixth among the 30 MLB teams with a 3.58 ERA.
“It’s hard losing Reese Olson,” Hinch said. “He’s a huge, huge guy that I trust.”
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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