Dr. Clanton clears Jose Iglesias to begin lower-body exercises

DETROIT — Jose Iglesias won't return to the Tigers this year, but he should be good to go next season. Wednesday the Tigers received good news about Jose Iglesias, who has been recovering from bilateral tibial stress fractures.

Iglesias visited orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Clanton, at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado on Tuesday for a follow-up visit. Iglesias underwent MRIs and CT scans, and with the results coming back clean, Iglesias has been cleared to begin lower-body activities for the first time since going on the disabled list on March 29.

"It was the best possible outcome we could have hoped for," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said. At this point the goal is to prepare Iglesias for normal off-season conditioning.

The shortstop will not take part in winter ball, and he has a ways to go before he's anywhere near game-ready, but it's much better outcome than the alternative. At one point there was concern that Iglesias would need surgery to repair the bilateral fractures if the healing process didn't go well.

Iglesias has been limited on what he was allowed to do while the shins healed, unable to take part in almost all lower-body activities. With that no longer being the case, Iglesias will begin preparing for the next season, in Miami, Florida. Last season Iglesias batted .259 for the Tigers, with two home runs, six doubles, 12 runs scored and 10 RBI.

"He has to work on strengthening and biomechanics," Rand said. "Hopefully, we'll have our guy back next year."

The Tigers said Iglesias would return next season to resume his position at shortstop, but for now, he will work on strengthening muscles that have needed to sit idle for the better part of six months. The Tigers anticipate Iglesias will be ready to go for spring training in 2015.

"As far as Dr. Clanton is concerned, the bone is healed," Rand said.