Wenceel Pérez Returns to Tigers With Dramatic Home Run After Back Injury

DETROIT — Wenceel Pérez returned to the Detroit Tigers lineup on May 27, 2025, making a significant comeback after battling back injuries throughout spring training. After a season marred by pain, he delivered a jolt to the team, hitting a home run in his first at-bat back in the big leagues.

Following the last game of spring training in Clearwater, Pérez walked into the clubhouse looking somber. Most of his teammates were cheerful, but Pérez had just reported pain in his lower back.

“I was trying to get through it, but it was just getting worse and worse,” Pérez said. He had missed previous days of camp due to back tightness and struggled to keep up with his teammates as he faced the pain during spring.

Despite the discomfort, Pérez attempted to play through it. He reflected, “I think I was swinging hard and too much. I wasn’t in my rhythm or timing, and then that’s when I started feeling it again.” After finishing the spring with only three hits, the Tigers placed him on the 60-day injured list.

While his teammates headed to San Francisco for exhibition games, Pérez stayed back to rehabilitate his injury. He joined fellow injured players Matt Vierling and Alex Cobb in recovery, strategizing to get back on the field.

“Oh my gosh, that was not a vacation,” Pérez said about his rehab stint, which included a series of games across different minor league teams.

On May 16, Pérez began his rehab assignment, eventually returning to the Tigers just as Vierling went back on the IL with shoulder inflammation.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch expressed mixed emotions. “We should not steal any joy away from getting Wenceel back. This guy is so fun to be around,” he said.

Pérez stepped into the batter’s box in the second inning against Giants pitcher Logan Webb. He had struggled during rehab, managing only four hits in 18 at-bats. Still, he seized the moment. After taking two balls, he launched a 2-0 sinker over the right-field wall at 100.5 mph for a home run.

<pHinch praised Pérez, stating, "So proud for that kid. He’s worked hard. Injuries are tough for everyone, and it’s crushing to deal with, especially at such exciting times of the year."

Although he struck out in his next two at-bats, the Tigers secured a 3-1 victory over the Giants, improving their season record to 36-20. Pérez’s return symbolizes a turning point for a team that has faced injuries.

As Pérez rejoins the team, he is expected to contribute across the outfield positions. Only 25 years old, he was a key player last season, and his comeback could be pivotal for the Tigers this summer.