3 underrated Tigers developments that fans cannot ignore for 2026

There were plenty of big storylines in 2025 for the Detroit Tigers. Tarik Skubal somehow besting his 2024 performance was one. The Tigers blowing a 15.5-game lead in the AL Central to back into the playoffs as a wild card team was another. But in the big stories, some more under-the-radar developments came to pass that will have big implications for 2026.

Taking note of these developments will inform us where the Tigers' needs actually lie, but also inform us of what to expect (or not expect) from the front office moving forward. It's clear the Tigers have their sights on another successful campaign in 2026, but what they do to get there is where these developments can shed some light.

3 under-the-radar Tigers' developments in 2025 that will inform the 2026 season

Scott Harris isn't going to sell the farm anytime soon

If there's one thing that's been stuck in Tigers fans' craw, it's the way the 2025 trade deadline went down. With a broken bullpen, Scott Harris went to work fixing it ... with guys who (except Kyle Finnegan) were worse than what was already in place.

Meanwhile, the offense, particularly third base, shortstop, and center field, could have used a boost. There were players out there to be had, but Harris seemingly had no interest. In the months since, his reflections on the affair are nuanced. One thing is clear, though: he doesn't regret not trading some of his highly-touted young assets.

If there were any questions after the deadline about Harris's feelings about his prospects, he put them to bed shortly after the club's season came to an end. The top prospects, like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark, are going to be counted on to be big pieces of the 2026 club.

Like it or not, don't expect Harris to sell the farm for a blockbuster deal anytime soon. The lead executive clearly believes in his system and has eyes on building a dynastic empire, not just a brief window of contention. Therefore, expect the trades to continue to be on the small scale now and in the future.

The Tigers lack a true presence in the heart of the order

On the one hand, the Tigers had some positive developments from their collection of young power bats. Spencer Torkelson went from looking to be on his way out to posting a career high 118 wRC+. Riley Greene took the next step in his ascension with a 36-homer campaign. Others like Colt Keith and Wenceel Perez didn't have quite the same bodies of work, but they showed positive flashes as well.

However, strikeouts were a major problem for Detroit. Greene became the franchise record holder for most strikeouts in a single season with 201. The team as a whole struck out 23.9% of the time — good for fourth most in the majors.

With the season on the line in Game 5 of the ALDS, Torkelson, Greene, and the rest of the heart of the Tigers' order went a combined 0-23 with 10 Ks.

What this tells us is that, while the group is impressive, none of them is the guy. Looking back to recent history, the Tigers were at their best when they had a middle-of-the-order bat who not only packed a wallop, but could also make contact when it counted. Think Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, or even Victor Martinez.

Hitters like this don't grow on trees, and given Harris's reluctance to trade his top prospects, one won't be easy to find. Perhaps one of the next wave of stars to come up from the minors comes up and take that mantle.

Until then, Detroit needs to find a way to cut down on the swing and misses and add some contact balance to the lineup.

A young building block for the rotation emerged, and his name isn't Jackson Jobe

Anticipation was high when top prospect Jackson Jobe made his big league debut, and the disappointment throughout Michigan was palpable when he went down with an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery.

In the middle of all that, though, was some below-average performance. Jobe made 10 starts but only logged 49 innings. He walked 12.4% of the batters he faced while striking out just 17.9%. His 4.22 ERA was decent, but his 5.18 FIP suggests it could've been worse. These struggles and the injury don't drastically change his future outlook, but they are worth noting.

Instead, another hurler got his shot, and his performance may have been a bit overlooked due to the unique way in which he was deployed.

Troy Melton was a starter in the minors, but of his 16 big league appearances in 2025 only four were starts. Despite that, all but one of Melton's outings lasted for more than an inning, with him often going two or even three at a time.

Over that span, he found success with a 2.76 ERA. Seemingly, Melton's usage out of the bullpen had more to do with the struggles of the Tigers' other relievers than an indictment on his ability to start. Harris has gone on record saying that he'll be in the rotation moving forward.

Melton has stuff to clean up. His FIP was much less rosy at 4.60, largely due to a pedestrian strikeout rate of 20% and a slightly elevated home run rate of 1.38 HR/9. On the other hand, his six-pitch arsenal limited hitters to a .221 expected batting average.

The 24-year-old right-hander won't answer all of the questions that exist within the rotation, but his 2025 was solid, foreshadowing a productive career as a quality starter.