Detroit Tigers key man, who always stand for them undergo shocking surgery
Detroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange, who led the team in saves last year but was demoted after struggling in 2024, is set to undergo surgery next week.
The announcement was made in the minor-league medical report released on Tuesday.
Lange has not played since June 14 when he suffered a right lat strain while pitching for Triple-A Toledo. He will have an avulsion procedure to repair the torn latissimus dorsi tendon.
Although the Tigers do not provide injury timelines, similar injuries suggest Lange might miss the remainder of the season.
Lange, 28, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the 2019 Nick Castellanos trade. Initially a starter, he quickly adapted to a reliever role.
He debuted in the major leagues with the Tigers in 2021, became a bullpen regular in 2022, and took over the closer role in 2023. Despite consistently high swing-and-miss rates, his walk rate has always been slightly high.
However, in 2024, his walks skyrocketed. Lange issued 17 walks in 18 2/3 innings, along with two hit batters and four wild pitches.
The tipping point came on May 22 in Kansas City when Lange allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in a disastrous seventh inning. Manager A.J. Hinch made a pointed visit to the mound to address Lange sternly.
Following the game, Lange was optioned to Toledo.
The injury is a significant setback for Lange both competitively and financially.
Since Lange was on an optional assignment when injured, he will not accrue service time while on the minor-league injured list.
He is just days away from reaching three years of MLB service time, crucial for arbitration eligibility.
If he does not return to Detroit this year, he will miss out on Super 2 status for the second consecutive year, as players need at least 86 days of MLB service time to be Super 2 eligible.
Last winter, Lange missed Super 2 status by a few days, costing him several hundred thousand dollars in salary.
If Lange remains below three years of service time, his free agency will be delayed by a year, with the Tigers controlling his contract through 2028 instead of 2027. The importance of this depends on Lange’s future performance.
Additional updates from the minor-league medical report include:
* Right-handed pitcher Jack Bushell, an 18-year-old signed from Australia in January, recently underwent Tommy John surgery and will not return until next year.
* Infielder Izaac Pacheco, the No. 39 overall pick in 2021, injured his right hand while batting on June 6 and had right hamate excision surgery on June 11. He is on the 60-day injured list.
* Right-handed pitcher Adam Wolf suffered a right ankle stress fracture during his June 8 outing for Class AA Erie and is also on the 60-day IL.
* Right-handed pitchers Brendan White and Freddy Pacheco are starting rehab assignments in Lakeland, Florida. White has elbow inflammation, and Pacheco is recovering from Tommy John surgery last year.