Feb. 11: Olson tells Chris McCosky of the Detroit News that he reinjured his shoulder last October, several months after the initial injury. He knew surgery was possible at that point, but he’d have missed the entire 2026 season even he went under the knife right away, so he opted to try to rehab for the next few months, figuring he had nothing to lose. Obviously, the rehab process didn’t prove sufficient, and he’ll now aim to be back on the mound in 2027.
Feb. 10: Tigers right-hander Reese Olson is done for the year after undergoing a right shoulder labral repair, the team announced. Olson has been placed on the 60-day IL, along with fellow right-hander Jackson Jobe. The moves will open up 40-man roster spots for recent free agent additions Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander.
Olson’s 2025 season ended in late July due to a right shoulder strain. There had been rumblings that he might not be ready for Opening Day, but there hadn’t been any indication that he’d be sidelined for an extended time. His surgery went down on Feb. 2, per the team announcement. Jobe’s move to the 60-day IL was anticipated. He had Tommy John surgery in June and is set to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season.
The Valdez and Verlander signings make more sense following the Olson revelation. Detroit will now have Valdez and Tarik Skubal at the top of the rotation, followed in some order by Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. Troy Melton will serve as a depth option. Jobe could join the mix later in the season.
The 26-year-old Olson has been a reliable member of the Detroit rotation since his debut in 2023. He’s compiled a 3.60 ERA with decent strikeout and walk numbers across 56 big-league appearances. Injuries have been the main limiting factor. Olson missed the majority of the second half in 2024 with a shoulder strain. He missed time in the middle of last season with finger inflammation. Olson made it back for just four games after the finger issue before going down with the most recent shoulder strain.
Detroit acquired Olson from the Brewers straight up for Daniel Norris at the 2021 trade deadline. He finished that season at Double-A in the Tigers’ system. Olson spiked a 33.1% strikeout rate in a repeat of the level in 2022. He earned a promotion to Triple-A in 2023, where he continued to miss bats at a well-above-average clip. Olson’s 6.38 ERA with Toledo didn’t suggest a callup was imminent, though his FIP was more than a run lower. He made 18 starts with Detroit that season, including a dominant September where he allowed five earned runs across five appearances.
Olson hasn’t been able to replicate the strikeout upside he showed in the minor leagues, despite a pair of plus swing-and-miss pitches. The righty’s changeup and slider both had whiff rates above 42% in 2024 and 2025. Olson has posted an identical 12.7% swinging-strike rate in each of the past two seasons. The arsenal just hasn’t translated to punchouts. Olson has been right around league average in strikeout rate at the MLB level. He hasn’t reached a strikeout per inning in any season with the Tigers.
Photo courtesy of Junfu Han, Imagn Images
Oh that sucks man 😢
Welp, that helps some of the logjam but still sucks
Genuinely devastating, such a great pitcher that can’t stay on the field
Even more devastating is how many pitchers this applies to
Wasn’t aware he was hurt. Verlander signing just makes more sense now.
Too bad Scherzer hates the Illitches cause they could get the old band back together.
This explains a lot. However, the Tigers have plenty of depth to cover for it.
Ugh
And so the injury announcement’s begin. Good luck everybody
Well I was a bit disappointed for Melton and Anderson getting dropped down the depth chart with Verlander signing. Now I’m disappointed for Olson. That sucks.
Time to bring Verlanders buddy back too. Wonder if the Brewers would trade Hall for Jung maybe?
Why in the world would the Brewers do THAT?
Quite an age difference. What’s the story between the two (Verlander and Hall that is)? Did they do offseason work outs together and become friends?
Explains the Verlander signing.
Didn’t Olsen go on the IL last July? How could it take this long to get a surgery diagnosis?
Wonder if initial diagnosis was that he could potentially avoid surgery but didn’t heal enough/properly requiring surgery now
@NY that is entirely possible. Just seems odd.
Its only odd because in the world of sports surgery is often a first resort due to the short careers they have vs normal people who for many reasons only look into surgery as a last resort and usually avoid it if possible
Keeping that secret saved them $$ on one or both of their new arm signings.
Keeping it secret respected the players right to privacy.
Right, the burden of protecting that right certainly weighs heavily on each club as they busily disrespect it willy-nilly.
@serge
you really think Valdez would be able to squeeze even more out of them than $35 mil because a back of the rotation SP went down? Doubtful.
Olson is not back of the rotation. He’s probably the 2nd-best pitcher on the staff prior to Valdez signing. They made Flaherty No. 2 out of respect for his veteran standing.
@84Leflore
Don’t confuse pitching the day after the #1 guy with having #2 abilities and part of the “abilities ” is being able to do it over a 150+ innings. Right now he’s just a kid with stuff. Valdez is legit a #3 and on some teams, a #1. But my point stands, healthy or not be was having no impact on Valdez getting anymore than the $35 mil he received.
I meant a legit #2
Fair enough.
Hoping he can stay healthy upon return. In the meantime, we’re looking good on arms to start the year.
Too bad for Reese. Talented arm, but kind of fragile. Then again, pitching in MLB is unnatural and violent on the arm.
What is it with baseball Reese and their appendages
This kid is a decent pitcher but he’s ALWAYS hurt. If he’s never going to be available then what’s the point. Now he won’t pitch until possibly 2028? Wow…
He’ll be back next year. And yes, I believe there will be a 2027 season.
Plus, Reese will be there with the team in Oct and Nov hanging on the rail and in the middle of the celebrations when the Tigers win it all in ’26!
Win what: a 3 game series in Anaheim in June?
This is a depressing time of year because there will be 20-25 players, mostly pitchers, over the next two week that will get similar announcements.
Man, that sucks for the guy, but now we know why Verlander was signed. Still a good and sentimental signing for the fanbase. Might as well turn a negative to a positive.
This explains why they just signed Verlander.
What a fortunate string of events. Two big name pitcher’s available right when the Tigers needed them, WOW ! With new hitters waiting to come up all they needed was a first rate pitching staff with a lot of depth. WOW. GO TIGERS !!!!
maybe Gipson-Long could be stretched out again?
Don’t need him to be. They have Skubal, Valdez, Verlander, Flaherty, Mize, Melton, Montero. 7 deep on obvious starter options.
I would like to borrow two of your starters for my team.
Shoot, 7 deep is good, 8 deep is even better. (TWSS)
Can never have too much pitching depth ready to be called up – especially in a contending season, which this will be from Day 1.
SGL was looking very strong before his injury happened. He’s had a good recovery time. Might as well stretch him out.
Labral tears are a much more serious injury than a UCL injury. Good luck to Olson. I hope he is able to beat the odds and return to his previous level of performance.
Explains a lot.
Very talented pitcher
But always constantly non stop never ending injuries his entire major lg career
Availability is a skill. Talented pitcher but made of glass.
This poor guy. He’s shown so much.
160lbs?