Detroit Tigers fans received some tough news this weekend as the team announced that slugger Kerry Carpenter has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left shoulder injury. The move came Sunday morning, just before the final game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The injury occurred in the first inning of Saturday's 5-1 loss, when Carpenter crashed into the side wall in foul territory while trying to make a play. The misplay resulted in a stunning inside-the-park home run by Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. — a highlight that quickly went viral on social media.
Carpenter, 28, has been a key bat in the Tigers' lineup this season, posting a .216 average with six home runs and an OPS of .750 across 37 games. However, his injury history continues to be a concern, as this marks yet another stint on the IL in his five-year MLB career. It remains unclear when he'll be able to return to action.
To fill the roster spot, the Tigers have called up infielder Gage Workman from Triple-A Toledo. The 26-year-old switch-hitter has already seen MLB action this season, appearing in 12 games combined with the Chicago Cubs (nine games) and Chicago White Sox (three games). Workman originally was selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Arizona State, but was left unprotected and taken by the Cubs in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
Workman's journey back to Detroit has been a whirlwind. After making the Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2025, he was designated for assignment in April and traded to the White Sox, only to be DFA'd again by Chicago in mid-May. Once he cleared waivers, he was returned to the Tigers as part of the Rule 5 draft process.
Known for his defensive versatility and a unique hitting approach — he quit hitting right-handed due to strikeout struggles — Workman will look to make an immediate impact. He made headlines in his return to the organization with a memorable three-run triple in a recent Triple-A game.
As the Tigers work through this latest setback, all eyes will be on Carpenter's recovery timeline and whether Workman can provide a spark for a team looking to snap out of its recent slide.