Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander completed a bullpen session for the first time in the week after lingering pain in his left leg forced him to slow down the rehab process.Here's the good news: The 43-year-old made progress Wednesday, April 22, in his most recent bullpen as he continues to try to return from left hip inflammation.The bad news?There still isn't a timetable for Verlander's return to the Tigers."It sounds like his leg didn't hinder him as much as it had in his previous bullpen, which is encouraging," manager A.J. Hinch before Wednesday's game. "The initial reaction from him was a positive step forward, which is great.
He still has a series of things that he needs to do before I can plan on anything, but as of right after the bullpen, I was glad to get that news."JEFF SEIDEL: Fifth inning for Javier Báez, Kevin McGonigle show these Tigers' magicLess than 24 hours later, Verlander discussed his successful bullpen session before Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park.He is optimistic."I thought yesterday went well," Verlander said. "The last time I tried to step on it, I don't want to say I had a full setback, but it didn't respond the way I wanted, the way anybody wanted, so that was disappointing.
After yesterday, it didn't do that, which is good."What happens next?That's for the Tigers to decide."I think it's reasonable to say that, from there, we can start to try to move forward, which is the whole goal for rehab," Verlander said. "I don't know what these guys are thinking as far as next steps."Hinch doesn't know yet.He wants to see Verlander throw another bullpen."He's going to get off the mound again," Hinch said before Thursday's game. "It was progress, whatever that means.
He's going to need to do more and more to really have a distinct plan."Verlander threw all five of his pitches – fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and sweeper – but more importantly, he repeated his optimal mechanics throughout the bullpen.That's the key for him."When I was talking to the doctors, it's one of those things where you can push through, which is good," Verlander said, "but when I was really trying to step on it, it was affecting my mechanics a little bit. If it's affecting mechanics, I don't care how much pain you can work through, you don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face."WEDNESDAY'S ACTION: Spencer Torkelson blasts first home run in Tigers' win over BrewersThe Tigers placed Verlander on the injured list April 4, retroactive to April 1.He has made just one start for the Tigers in the 2026 season, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout across 3⅔ innings March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks."It's taking a little longer than we expected, which is frustrating," Verlander said.This story will be updated.Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander injury update: Detroit Tigers pitcher makes progress