Outfielder Kerry Carpenter left Sunday’s game between the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning due to left hamstring tightness, a recurring issue that has plagued much of his 2024 season.
According to Evan Woodbery of Mlive.com, Carpenter is scheduled for an MRI on Monday to evaluate the injury’s severity and determine the next steps in his recovery. Despite Carpenter’s setback, the Tigers secured a 3-0 win over the Twins.
The injury occurred at a pivotal moment when Carpenter smashed an RBI triple down the right-field line, marking his second consecutive day with an extra-base hit. However, as he rounded second and slid into third, he winced and seemed to grab the back of his left leg.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and assistant athletic trainer Kelly Rhoades rushed out to attend to him. Carpenter was removed from the game and replaced by Wenceel Perez, who remained in right field.
Lingering Issue Dating Back to 2023
Speaking after the game, Carpenter revealed that he felt the hamstring tighten up earlier during defensive play in the outfield and more significantly during the triple.
“It feels similar to the last time I had a little issue with it,” Carpenter said. “The staff here has done a great job getting me back pretty quickly, so we’ll see how it goes. I think we’re all pretty optimistic about it.”
Carpenter’s hamstring troubles began back in spring training of 2023, when he suffered a strain that sidelined him early. The issue resurfaced during the 2023 AL Division Series, where he was limited in a key Game 5 pinch-hit appearance due to discomfort while running.
In 2024, the injury has been managed with compression sleeves and periodic rest, but has caused multiple late lineup scratches, most recently on June 4. To date, he has avoided an injured list stint, and both Carpenter and the team are hopeful that this situation won’t change that. Still, an MRI will be the definitive test.
Leave a Reply