As the Detroit Tigers gear up for the 2026 season, they’re banking on infielder Trey Sweeney to play a pivotal role. Unfortunately, Sweeney’s spring training hit a snag due to a shoulder injury.
The Tigers have decided to halt Sweeney’s throwing activities, according to Evan Woodberry of MLive. General Manager AJ Hinch confirmed that while Sweeney will still participate in certain aspects of training, his throwing is on pause for now, as reported by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.
“It came up during drills on the backfields, so we had him seen by a doctor,” Hinch explained. “We’re going to pause his throwing. He’s still going to do some other defensive things while the soreness calms down.”
In 2025, Sweeney played in 118 games, posting a .196 average with six home runs, 32 RBIs, and three stolen bases. Over his two seasons with Detroit, he’s managed a .202 average, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and five stolen bases.
While Sweeney’s stats might not stand out, the Tigers see him as a crucial backup infielder. With Zach McKinstry slated to start, Sweeney was expected to step in as needed.
However, with this setback, the Tigers will be closely monitoring his recovery. They’ll be hoping that once he’s back, Sweeney can find more consistency at the plate as the backup shortstop.
