Olson’s 2025 season ended in late July due to a right shoulder strain. There were rumors that he might not be ready for Opening Day, but there was no indication that he would be sidelined for an extended period of time. His surgery was aborted on Feb. 2, according to the team announcement. Jobe’s move to the 60-day IL was expected. He had Tommy John surgery in June and will miss most, if not all, of next season.
The Valdez and Verlander signings make more sense after Olson’s revelation. Detroit will now have Valdez and Pull Skubal at the top of the rotation, followed in some order by Verlander, Jack Flaherty And Casey Mize. Troy Melton will serve as a depth option. Jobe could join the mix later in the season.
The 26-year-old Olson has been a reliable member of the Detroit rotation since his debut in 2023. He has compiled a 3.60 ERA with decent strikeout and walk numbers in 56 major league games. Injuries have been the main limiting factor. Olson missed most of the second half in 2024 due to a shoulder injury. He missed time midway through last season due to a finger infection. Olson only made it back four games after the finger issue before going down with the most recent shoulder strain.
Detroit acquired Olson directly from the Brewers Daniel Norris at the 2021 trade deadline. He finished that season in Double-A in the Tigers system. Olson posted a 33.1% strikeout rate in a repeat of the 2022 level. He earned a promotion to Triple-A in 2023, where he continued to miss strikes at a well-above-average clip. Olson’s ERA of 6.38 with Toledo didn’t suggest a call-up was imminent, although his FIP was down more than a point. He made 18 starts with Detroit that season, including a dominant September in which he allowed five earned runs in five appearances.
Olson hasn’t been able to match the strikeout advantage he showed in the minor leagues, despite some plus-swing-and-miss pitches. The righty’s changeup and slider both had whiff rates above 42% in 2024 and 2025. Olson has posted an identical swinging-strike rate of 12.7% in each of the past two seasons. The arsenal just hasn’t translated into punchouts. Olson was around league average in strikeout percentage at the MLB level. He has not reached a strikeout per inning in any season with the Tigers.
Photo courtesy of Junfu Han, Imagn Images
#Reese #Olson #season #shoulder #surgery