EXCLUSIVE NEWS: One year after his last big-league game, Tigers’ Alex Lange Sad News Has Reached His Family And Team Management But It Is Hard To Say After.....

One year after his last big-league game, Tigers’ Alex Lange learning to ‘beat the day’

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange throws against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

DETROIT — It was one year ago this week that Detroit Tigers reliever Alex Lange last pitched in a big-league game.

About three weeks after that, he suffered a devastating injury on the mound in Toledo.

Lange underwent lat surgery last June — technically called an avulsion procedure to repair the torn latissimus dorsi tendon — and has been rehabbing ever since.

The milestones have come slowly, and there have been setbacks.

Lange was throwing bullpen sessions back in February. The hope, albeit unstated, was that he would have progressed to simulated games and perhaps a rehab assignment by now.

Alex Lange's 1st career strikeout

But Lange was forced to pause his rehab due to a setback. On Saturday, he threw his first bullpen in several weeks. was 20 pitches at less than 100 percent effort, but it was a start.

“It felt good to get back off the mat,” he said. “Hiccups happen sometimes, especially with surgery and a weird injury. But it’s good to be back.”

Lange said his motivation to get healthy is rooted in helping the surging Tigers. But he knows he can only do that by getting fully healthy.

“Whatever the day brings, dominate it,” he said. “The best advice I got was: Beat the day. That’s all you can do. You have setbacks and successes. This team is doing so well, and you want to help, but you’ve got to take care of business first. Me at 90 percent isn’t good enough to pitch on this team. I need to be 100 percent and come back ready when it’s time.”

Alex Lange Suffers Setback, Will Be Shut Down

Lange, 29, was acquired from the Chicago Cubs as part of the Nick Castellanos deal in 2019. He was a starter then, but quickly embraced his new role as a reliever.

He made his big-league debut with the Tigers in 2021, became a mainstay in the bullpen in 2022 and then seized the closer role in 2023. Through it all, he maintained nasty swing-and-miss stuff with a slightly elevated walk rate.

But the walks went through the roof in 2024. Lange issued 17 free passes in 18 2/3 innings, in addition to two hit batters and four wild pitches.

The situation came to a head on May 22 in Kansas City. Lange allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in a miserable seventh inning. At one point, A.J. Hinch marched to the mound and delivered a blunt message.

Lange made progress with the Mud Hens, but he knew he had suffered a grave injury after throwing a fastball on June 14. He felt the tendon snap off the bone.