CHICAGO -- After over a month on the injured list, Sawyer Gipson-Long has rejoined Detroit's pitching staff.
Before Wednesday afternoon’s 1-0, series-clinching win over the White Sox at Rate Field, the Tigers announced they had activated Gipson-Long from the 15-day IL. In a corresponding move, they optioned Codi Heuer to Triple-A Toledo.
Though he wasn’t on the shelf nearly as long as when he missed all of 2024 and the first two-plus months of 2025, it was still a trying recovery period for Gipson-Long.
He was placed on the IL on July 2 (retroactive to June 29) with neck stiffness. He said Wednesday morning that he was dealing with spasms, and nothing was structurally wrong with his neck. However, when he first went on a Minor League rehab assignment a month ago, he had to pause after two outings with Triple-A Toledo because “it didn't feel quite as good as I'd like.”
Once they “figured some things out,” Gipson-Long resumed his rehab assignment with Toledo and pitched twice in August. He was scheduled to make another rehab start Wednesday, but with Detroit looking to win the three-game set at Chicago, the team felt having Gipson-Long available out of the bullpen would better its chances.
Gipson-Long did contribute to a lockdown day for the Tigers’ pitching staff. Behind five innings of one-hit ball from Troy Melton, Gipson-Long pitched two scoreless frames, giving up only one base hit while striking out two in his return.
“He was preparing to start in Triple-A today.” manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. “And when I talked to him, I said, 'Listen, there's a lot of things in play right now, but right now, today, to try to win the series against the White Sox, we need you in the 'pen and potentially for some length.'”
Hinch also noted Gipson-Long’s role is not determined beyond Wednesday. That’s fine with the 27-year-old right-hander, who has experience beyond just starting at the big league level.
In his 2023 debut season, all four of his outings were starts. But after he returned this season on June 4 -- coincidentally also at Rate Field -- following an extended period off due to Tommy John surgery (April 2024) and left hip surgery (July 2024), he got some work out of the bullpen.
He did start on June 4 and June 27 (his last outing before hitting the IL), but in between, he made three relief appearances. That time spent learning life as a reliever makes him confident he can fill that role moving forward, if that’s what he’s asked to do.
“If they need to put me in the 'pen, if I need to just eat innings, if I need to start one day -- whatever I got to do to help the team win, I'll do it,” Gipson-Long said. “I have experience coming out of the 'pen now. I have experience starting. I feel comfortable doing whatever.”
After so much time missed the last two years, Gipson-Long is certainly happy to just be healthy enough to get on the field. Rejoining a ballclub nearing the stretch run to the postseason is just an exciting bonus.
“We're getting down to it, so these games really matter,” Gipson said. “Every game matters, but it feels like a little bit more right now. It's going to be fun.”
As for Heuer, Hinch said his slider can be a real weapon at this level, but his fastball command has to improve.
“He was yanking his fastball [Tuesday] night, which doesn't make it easier to hit his breaking ball, but it makes him a little bit more predictable and got him into some tough counts, and he got dinged up a little bit,” Hinch said. “Fastball command is really going to be key for him, keeping his weapons versatile and usable and get his body moving a little bit better.”
Injuries have cost Heuer a ton of time over the last few seasons. Before his three appearances with the Tigers, he hadn’t pitched in the Majors since 2021.
Hinch is happy for Heuer, knowing how difficult the long journey can be. Now that he’s healthy, it’s about doing what he can to provide a reliable arm to Detroit’s bullpen whenever he’s back with the team.
“In his short stint here, he showed flashes of how he can help us, and I told him to go work on his thing and be ready for a call back,” Hinch said. “We need him.”