It's one step forward, two, three, four steps back for Austin Meadows. The injury-plagued Tigers outfielder won't return until after the All-Star break, if he returns this season at all.
Meadows is expected to be pulled off his rehab assignment due to soreness in both his legs as he tries to recover from dual Achilles tendon strains, A.J. Hinch told reporters Monday in Kansas City with the Tigers set to open a four-game series with the Royals.
"I think we're going to have to stop his rehab and start over," said Hinch.
Meadows' rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo began July 6, but he lasted just two games before being lifted from the lineup. He hasn't played since last Thursday. Now he's likely headed back to Lakeland.
It's a cruel but fitting way for Meadows to close the first half of the season. Acquired from the Rays for Isaac Paredes (and a draft pick) at the end of spring training, he's played in just 36 games for the Tigers due to various ailments.
First he missed three weeks due to vertigo, which was brought on by an inner-ear infection. When he returned, he lasted just seven games before testing positive for COVID-19. He hasn't played since.
The Tigers have missed Meadows' left-handed bat in the middle of their lineup. He was their most productive hitter out of the gate, batting .328 with an .858 OPS in April. At the time, Al Avila and the Tigers looked wise for plucking him from the Rays.
Now the Rays look like the smart ones -- surprise, surprise -- with Paredes raking in Tampa and the Tigers wondering what they missed.
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