Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is sidelined with his second shoulder injury in as many years. He could return to the Tigers in late October.
Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is sidelined with his second shoulder injury in as many years and ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Now he's just hoping the Tigers will make a deep postseason run.
If that happens, Olson could pitch again in 2025.
If not, he won't pitch until 2026.
"Hopefully, the boys make a deep run into October, and I can contribute at some point in October," Olson said Monday, Aug. 4, just seven days after the Tigers ruled him out for the regular season. "That's what everyone mentioned when I first got hurt. We've got some good news going there."
The good news: Olson doesn't need surgery.
It's another year with a right shoulder injury, but the right shoulder strain he suffered in July 2024 isn't the same injury as the right shoulder strain that has sidelined him in July 2025.
"A little bit different," Olson said.
He doesn't know what led to the latest shoulder injury.
"You don't want to be labeled as a guy who gets hurt all the time," Olson said. "I guess I got to look at my routine. I feel like I do everything I need to stay healthy. I feel like I do the same, if not more, than some guys that stay healthy. It's just frustrating. I just chalk it up to bad luck."
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Olson first noticed right shoulder soreness after his July 18 start against the Texas Rangers. He then felt right shoulder irritation in his July 24 start against the Toronto Blue Jays. After that, he reported right shoulder discomfort after his July 26 bullpen session.
An MRI showed a right shoulder strain.
"It sucks to sit on the sidelines," Olson said, "but I'm going to do everything I can to get back out there."
When healthy, Olson registered a 3.15 ERA with 25 walks and 65 strikeouts across 68⅔ innings in 13 starts. He missed nearly two months with right ring finger inflammation, and he's now set to miss at least two and a half months with a right shoulder strain.
Olson hopes to return to the Tigers during the postseason, even if that means coming out of the bullpen.
"I want to contribute to the team," Olson said. "No matter what that's going to look like in October — it's probably not going to be starting, but if I can get back and contribute in any way possible, I hope to do that."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Reese Olson injury update: Detroit Tigers pitcher doesn't need surgery
Category: Baseball
