Gleyber Torres Pauses Batting to Heal Oblique Strain

Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres disclosed on Sunday that his left oblique strain remains incompletely healed, prompting a temporary halt to batting practice. The injury occurred on May 2 during a 5-1 win over Texas in Baltimore, when Torres was thrown out at home while attempting to score from second base on Riley Greene’s single. He exited the game after three innings and was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 4. After a brief return, Torres reported pain when swinging and elected to take four days off from batting, planning to resume hitting on Tuesday while continuing defensive duties and running.

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Torres, a three-time All-Star, previously missed 10 games early in the 2023 season because of a left oblique strain. Entering the 2024 campaign, he has appeared in 32 games, posting a .259 batting average, two home runs, and 11 RBIs. His prior experience with the same injury underscores the current cautionary approach.

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• Team performance without Torres: Detroit has lost eight consecutive games and 16 of the last 18 contests in his absence.

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• Torres’s season metrics: .259 average, 2 HR, 11 RBIs across 32 games.

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These figures illustrate both the personal impact of the injury and the broader effect on the Tigers’ win-loss record.

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Torres emphasized that the strain is still healing and expressed frustration at his limited contribution. He noted that while defensive work and running remain unaffected, the inability to swing fully hampers his offensive role. He also highlighted the quality of the team’s rehabilitation environment in Florida, describing the process as “a really good job” but acknowledging setbacks when attempting more extensive batting work. Torres framed his recovery timeline as longer than initially anticipated, describing the situation as “really frustrating because I feel like I can’t do anything for the team.”

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• “It's not fully healed at the moment,” — Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers second baseman

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• “In Florida, we do a really good job. We hit a couple days, feels good, but when we try to hit a little bit more, don't feel any good.” — Gleyber Torres

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• “From the beginning, I thought it was going to be a short period,” — Gleyber Torres

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• “And now it takes me a little bit more than I expected. It feels really frustrating because I feel like I can't do anything for the team.” — Gleyber Torres

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• “ Torres said he is able to do everything defensively and in terms of running.” — Gleyber Torres

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The Tigers’ recent slump—eight straight defeats and a 16-of-18 loss record without Torres—highlights the offensive void left by his absence. While his defensive presence persists, the team’s inability to replace his bat has contributed to the prolonged losing streak.

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Torres plans to resume batting drills on Tuesday, continuing his rehabilitation under the guidance of the Tigers’ medical staff. The team will monitor his progress closely, aiming to restore his full offensive capabilities while maintaining defensive contributions.

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