Detroit Tigers’ Reese Olson gets hit by comebacker, exits game with right hip contusion

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson exited Monday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of the third inning with a right hip contusion.

A comebacker hit Olson on his right hip.

The 24-year-old looked like he wanted to stay in the game after throwing a couple of warmup pitches, but following a conversation with head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks and manager A.J. Hinch, he ultimately left game after 52 pitches.

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Olson threw a first-pitch 94.4 mph fastball to Michael Massey with two runners on base and two outs in the third inning. The ball — hit with a 101.8 mph exit velocity — drilled Olson in his right hip.

He immediately grabbed his right hip, limping.

Catcher Jake Rogers emerged from behind the plate to field the ball in front of the mound. He tried to make a play by flipping the ball to third base, but there wasn’t a defender covering the bag, so the ball bounced into foul territory and into the outfield. The lead runner scored on the mistake from Rogers, charged with a throwing error.

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After that, Eubanks and Hinch came out of the dugout to meet with Olson. The Tigers replaced Olson with right-handed reliever Beau Brieske.

Olson is scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park.

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The comeback that knocked Olson out of the game occurred one inning after he gave up a home run for the first time in 54 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned run) on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts across 2⅔ innings, with the both homer and comebacker hit by Massey.

Olson has a 2.16 ERA with 16 walks and 43 strikeouts across 50 innings in nine starts in the 2024 season.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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