Troy Melton begins Tigers' rehab assignment to build starter workload

TL;DR

Troy Melton has started his rehab assignment with the Detroit Tigers after recovering from right elbow inflammation. He threw 32 pitches in 1⅔ innings at Low-A Lakeland and is being built up as a starter.

Key points

Troy Melton is on a rehab assignment with the Detroit Tigers.
He is recovering from right elbow inflammation.
Melton threw 32 pitches in 1⅔ innings at Low-A Lakeland.
He is being built up as a starter, not a reliever.
Melton is eligible to return on May 25.

Troy MeltonDetroit Tigers

Right-hander Troy Melton is on his way back to the Detroit Tigers after suffering an injury in spring training.

The 25-year-old began a rehab assignment Sunday, May 3, with Low-A Lakeland, throwing 32 pitches across 1⅔ innings. His workload is being built by the Tigers as a starter – not as a reliever.

Melton is recovering from right elbow inflammation, which shut him down in late February. He isn't eligible to return to the Tigers until May 25 because he is on the 60-day injured list.

"It's good to see him pitching competitively," manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday's game. "When you get to this part of the rehab process, I try to put myself back in the mindset of what I would think on Feb. 27 when this guy goes out for his first [spring training] game. When you think about it in that regard, we would just get to the next outing."