Justin Verlander injury update: 'Looking forward to' facing hitters

Verlander is lined up to throw a live batting practice session during the Royals series, with Tigers hitters in the batter's box.

"I'm definitely looking forward to it," Verlander said. "The biggest thing I'm going to focus on is trying to maintain the mechanics that I've been working so diligently on – and having those transfer over to when you're competing. It's nice to face hitters in a non-game atmosphere so you can focus more on yourself and not just on results."

Verlander is expected to need a rehab assignment in Triple-A Toledo before joining the Tigers.

It's unclear when he will begin that rehab assignment.

He reflected on his 35 days (and counting) spent on the injured list.

"Early on, the prognosis was that it could be pretty quick," Verlander said. "It just didn't happen that way. The last week or two has been a mental shift for me, where I had to treat this like a long-term injury. It's allowed each day that's better to be a win. That mental switch has helped me to be more positive."

Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in early February, returning to the Tigers for the first time since being traded in September 2017. He previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17.

The 21-year MLB veteran has been on the injured list in each of the past seven seasons, from 2020-26.

He made his lone start in return to the Tigers on March 30, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout across 3⅔ innings against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

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

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander injury update: Tigers legend to start facing hitters