LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows has a nerve in his arm that needs to reactivate before he can return to baseball activities. If the nerve doesn't reactive soon, he will miss Opening Day.

Before Friday's game, manager A.J. Hinch was asked if the nerve has woken up yet.

It's not awake.

"You know how groggy you are before you get your coffee?" Hinch said, laughing. "I'm ready to get that jolt."

MLB doctor explains when Tigers' Parker Meadows could return from nerve issue

The latest update: Meadows is participating in light modified baseball activities.

What does that mean?

It means Meadows has increased his defensive work and conditioning drills, but he hasn't been cleared for throwing or hitting. He won't be able to throw until the nerve in his arm reactivates.

"We're just taking incremental steps in the right direction," Hinch said, "which is good."

Meadows, 25, hasn't played in a spring training game since Feb. 22. The Tigers have 20 days until Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) 

Right-hander Alex Cobb (right hip inflammation) has been playing catch for more than a week, beginning Feb. 26. The 37-year-old said he remains on schedule with the initial timeline, which put him on track to begin his build-up process in mid-March.

He suffered a right hip injury before spring training.

These 3 pitchers emerge as frontrunners to replace Alex Cobb

"I feel like I want to push it a little bit faster," said Cobb, who expects to be throwing bullpen sessions soon, "but right now I'm just happy to be kind of, not totally pain free, but I'm getting to that point."

Cobb has already been ruled out for Opening Day.

Catcher Brian Serven suffered a left oblique strain.

The 29-year-old has been shut down from baseball activities for a period of rest. Before the injury, he played in five spring training games, going 0-for-7 with two strikeouts.

Catcher Brian Serven brings 'every pitch matters' mentality to Tigers in 2025

Serven projects as the Tigers' fourth-string catcher, behind Jake Rogers, Dillon Dingler and Tomás Nido. He is expected to start the season in Triple-A Toledo.

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers injury update: Parker Meadows on 'light modified' activities?