In the world of baseball, throwing injuries for position players are typically seen as minor setbacks. A bit of rest, some strengthening exercises, and a gradual return to form is usually the standard approach. Unlike pitchers, outfielders and infielders don't face the same biomechanical challenges, so their recoveries often follow a different path.
However, the Detroit Tigers took a unique route when dealing with outfielders Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows. When Meadows faced a rare nerve injury in his right arm and Vierling strained his rotator cuff during the 2025 spring training, the Tigers opted for an unconventional approach by involving a pitching coach in their recovery process.
Enter Assistant Pitching Coach Robin Lund, who became the linchpin of Detroit’s innovative strategy. Lund, with his rich background in biomechanics and academic research, crafted a recovery plan that showcased the Tigers' forward-thinking development under manager A.J. Hinch.
Throwing injuries among position players are uncommon, and their rarity often leads to a lack of standardized recovery protocols. This can push teams into reactive decision-making.
But the Tigers, instead, embraced innovation. They tapped into Lund’s expertise, which combines a research-heavy background with practical coaching experience.
Before joining the Tigers in 2022, Lund served as the University of Iowa’s pitching coach and was a kinesiology professor with a Ph.D. in exercise science. His approach to managing pitchers’ workloads-carefully monitored throws, mapped-out recovery timelines, and detailed biomechanical analysis-was applied to Vierling and Meadows.
Both players underwent structured throwing programs akin to those used by pitchers recovering from shoulder or elbow injuries. This method emphasized gradual workload increases, mechanical checkpoints, and continued offseason programs, transforming injury rehab into an injury prevention strategy.
For Meadows, whose nerve injury presented unpredictable challenges, a careful progression was crucial to avoid lingering symptoms. For Vierling, maintaining long-term shoulder health was vital due to his defensive versatility and arm strength, which are key to the Tigers’ strategy.
In an era where pitching labs and data-driven player development often steal the spotlight, injury management might just be the hidden competitive edge. Healthy players are essential to winning games, and maintaining health is no accident.
As the 2026 spring training kicks off, both Meadows and Vierling are fully healthy. While this outcome might not create the buzz of a major signing or a top prospect debut, within a team built on pitching depth and defensive flexibility, availability is as crucial as talent.
Meadows’ speed and defensive prowess are vital to the Tigers’ outfield setup, while Vierling’s ability to switch between the outfield and infield provides manager Hinch with lineup flexibility that few teams can boast. Neither role is possible without a strong throwing arm.
By opting for an unconventional recovery approach and allowing a pitching coach to treat position players like pitchers, the Tigers may have quietly averted long-term issues that could have impacted their season.