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

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Reese Olson will miss the 2026 season after undergoing right shoulder labral repair surgery on February 2nd. The 26-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career, having yet to surpass 112 1/3 innings in a season. The loss of Olson may have played a role in the Tigers' recent spending spree, which included signing left-hander Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal and 42-year-old Justin Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract.

Why it matters

Olson's injury is a significant setback for the Tigers, as he has been one of the team's most promising young pitchers when healthy. The loss of Olson for the 2026 season will force the Tigers to rely more heavily on their other starting pitchers, including Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize.

The details

Olson went on the injured list last July with a right shoulder strain, which was originally believed to be on track for a normal offseason. However, further evaluation revealed the need for right shoulder labral repair surgery, which was performed by Dr. Keith Meister on February 2nd. The surgery marks a disappointing end to Olson's offseason and will sideline him for the entire 2026 season.

• Olson went on the injured list last July with a right shoulder strain.
• Olson underwent right shoulder labral repair surgery on February 2, 2026.
• Olson will miss the entire 2026 season due to the surgery.

What’s next

The Tigers will need to rely on their other starting pitchers, including Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize, to fill the void left by Olson's absence in the 2026 season.