Wenceel Perez set for 2026 Tigers debut, motivated by Opening Day snub
Detroit — Wenceel Perez probably imagined his debut for the 2026 Detroit Tigers looking a little different. Left off Detroit’s Opening Day roster, the 26-year-old outfielder got recalled for Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins after an outfield collision on Thursday sent Parker Meadows to the injured list with a broken arm and concussion, among other ailments. “There’s things you can’t control, sometimes,” Perez said on Friday about not making the team.
“That was out of my control. What I do is just play baseball and try to do my best all the time. I just tried to stay positive and keep working, find a way.
” And now with the Tigers after a strong offensive start to the season in Toledo playing AAA ball, Perez will make his 2026 MLB debut, batting eighth and starting in right field. “I talked about it being a little bit unfair that the 26-man roster had to be set when it did, and that Wenceel really didn't deserve more time in the minor leagues,” Tigers manager A. J.
Hinch said. “But he went down and from the day that I told him, had a monster day, the last day of spring, and then got off to a hot start in AAA. So he is logically and clearly the next best option for us to come up and join the roster.
” Hinch on Friday said it had been a tough decision to not include Perez on Detroit’s Opening Day roster, but sluggish offensive figures through spring training were hard to ignore, as Perez hit . 190. But after learning he’d be starting the season in Toledo, Perez went out and had a strong outing on the final day of spring training.