Parker Meadows DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) is closing in on his 2025 major league debut. Meadows will play nine innings tonight and Saturday at the Triple-A level. The Tigers could activate him after that, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. The 25-year-old Meadows was expected to open the season as the Tigers' starting center fielder, but a musculocutaneous nerve problem in his right arm has prevented him from contributing so far. He was an effective member of last year's playoff-bound club during an 82-game showing in which he hit .244/.310/.433 with nine home runs and nine steals. The Tigers have mostly turned to Javier Baez in center in Meadows' absence. While Baez has unexpectedly enjoyed a rebound campaign this year, he'll cede center to Meadows when the Tigers activate him.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday night. Meadows will finally be playing in games after being sidelined for the entire 2025 season to this point due to a nerve issue in his right arm. Because of the 25-year-old's lengthy absence, he's likely to require a longer rehab assignment, but he could be activated from the injured list by early June, barring a setback. Fantasy managers in need of outfield help should check to see if Meadows is available on the waiver wire, as he should be a lineup regular for Detroit when he's finally cleared to return to the big leagues. Meadows started slow in 2024 and missed time with a hamstring injury, but he was a difference-maker for the Tigers down the stretch and hit .296/.340/.500 with six homers and five steals in 47 games after returning in August.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) did his base-running test on Wednesday and also threw to the bases from the outfield in modified drills, according to the Detroit Free Press' Chris McCosky. Meadows said he feels close to being ready to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Since the 25-year-old has been out since late February with a nerve issue in his right arm, he's probably going to have to go on a lengthy rehab assignment. However, Meadows appears to be turning a corner and is worthy of consideration for a waiver-wire pickup if he's available with his return potentially coming in late May or early June. He was a difference-maker in fantasy and for Detroit in the second half in 2024 after he returned from injuries, slashing .296/.340/.500 with six homers and five steals in 47 regular-season games. At the very least, he should be in the strong side of a platoon in the outfield when he returns.