Tigers’ Wenceel Pérez injured in face in workout accident; team ‘pretty concerned’

Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Pérez was going through his typical postgame workout routine Tuesday night when a plyometric band snapped off its hook and hit him underneath the left eye.

The accident resulted in Pérez being unavailable and off-site for Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros in Houston. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Pérez was going through tests to determine his status.

“We’re pretty concerned about it,” Hinch told reporters before a 4-2 loss to the Astros.

The injury to Pérez was the second freak injury a Tigers player has suffered this season. Toward the end of spring training, catcher Jake Rogers suffered a mild concussion and had to get stitches after his own bat bounced back and struck him in the face during a routine cage drill.

Whether odd or ordinary, the Tigers have battled more than their share of injuries this season. In addition to losing ace left-hander Tarik Skubal for more than a month, the Tigers have been one of the league’s most injured teams this year. Earlier Wednesday, the team placed second baseman Gleyber Torres on the injured list with a left oblique strain for the second time this season.

The team is now awaiting further word on Pérez after one of the strangest injuries of the season.

Pérez’s accident brings to mind a similar injury to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., who suffered an orbital fracture during pregame warm-ups last October. In Richardson’s case, the injury required surgery and left him with impaired vision in his right eye.