Detroit Tigers fans, there's finally some good news on the Justin Verlander front. The veteran right-hander is inching closer to a return to the mound after a frustrating month on the sidelines.
Verlander, now 43, completed a bullpen session on Wednesday, May 6, without any issues—a major milestone that allows him to take the next step in his recovery. For the first time since his March 30 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he's preparing to face live hitters.
The three-time Cy Young winner has been on the injured list since April 4, retroactive to April 1, due to left hip inflammation. But after weeks of careful rehab, the future Hall of Famer is feeling optimistic.
"I'm feeling good," Verlander shared before Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. "I'm starting the build-up process. I don't know exactly what that looks like, but physically, I'm feeling much better, and mechanically, I'm also feeling much better. Those are good signs."
To get back to game speed, Verlander will travel with the Tigers on their upcoming road trip, which includes stops at Kauffman Stadium to face the Kansas City Royals (Friday through Sunday) and Citi Field to take on the New York Mets (Tuesday through Thursday). He's scheduled to throw a live batting practice session during the Royals series, with Tigers hitters stepping into the box.
"I'm definitely looking forward to it," Verlander said. "The biggest thing I'm going to focus on is trying to maintain the mechanics that I've been working so diligently on—and having those transfer over to when you're competing. It's nice to face hitters in a non-game atmosphere so you can focus more on yourself and not just on results."
Before rejoining the big league club, Verlander is expected to need a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, though a timeline for that has yet to be determined. Reflecting on the 35 days (and counting) he's spent on the injured list, Verlander admitted the process has tested his patience.
"Early on, the prognosis was that it could be pretty quick," he said. "It just didn't happen that way. The last week or two has been a mental shift for me, where I had to treat this like a long-term injury."
For Tigers fans and baseball enthusiasts alike, seeing Verlander back on the mound will be a welcome sight—and a reminder that even the game's greats need time to heal.