Tigers’ Reese Olson to miss 2026 season after right shoulder surgery

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson will miss the 2026 season after a right shoulder procedure, the team announced Tuesday.

Dr. Keith Meister performed Olson’s right shoulder labral repair Feb. 2, marking a disappointing end to a saga that started when Olson went on the injured list last July with a right shoulder strain. Originally believed to be on track for a normal offseason, Olson’s winter instead ended in surgery.

The loss of Olson might have played a role in the Tigers’ sudden spending spree. They added left-handed Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115 million deal last week. More notably, they signed 42-year-old Justin Verlander to a one-year, $13 million deal Tuesday.

When healthy, the 26-year-old has been one of the most underrated young pitchers in the game, carding a 3.60 ERA in 56 career MLB appearances. Olson, though, has struggled to stay healthy, having yet to surpass 112 1/3 innings in a season. Olson missed almost three months with a shoulder strain in 2024 and also dealt with a finger injury in 2025.

Olson’s injury is the downside to an otherwise exciting flurry of moves before the Tigers officially report to spring training Wednesday. He and right-hander Jackson Jobe (recovering from Tommy John surgery) both went on the 60-day injured list.

With Olson out, the Tigers projected starting rotation features Tarik Skubal, Valdez, Verlander, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize, with the likes of Troy Melton, Drew Anderson and Keider Montero also competing for jobs this spring.