Detroit Tigers fans may not have to wait much longer to see Justin Verlander back on a major league mound.

The future Hall of Famer is expected to make at least one more rehabilitation start with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens as he continues his recovery from left hip inflammation that has sidelined him since early April. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch indicated that the organization wants Verlander to continue building up his workload before activating him from the injured list.

Verlander, 43, made his first rehab appearance for Toledo on June 2 against the Iowa Cubs and showed encouraging signs. The veteran right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out four batters and consistently filling the strike zone. Reports from the outing noted that his fastball velocity and command appeared strong as he worked through 64 pitches.

The Tigers have taken a cautious approach with Verlander’s recovery, first stretching him out through simulated games before assigning him to Toledo. After the successful first rehab outing, Detroit determined that another start would help ensure he is fully prepared to rejoin the club’s rotation.

Verlander has made only one start for the Tigers this season. He signed a one-year contract with Detroit during the offseason, returning to the franchise where he spent the first 13 years of his major league career. His 2026 debut came on March 30 against Arizona, but he landed on the injured list days later after experiencing hip discomfort.

Now, after more than two months of rehabilitation work, Verlander appears to be on the verge of rejoining a Tigers team with postseason aspirations. If his next outing with the Mud Hens goes as planned, Detroit could soon welcome back one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history for the next chapter of his storied career

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