Detroit Tigers claim left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa off waiver wire

Detroit Tigers claim Bennett Sousa off waivers.

The Detroit Tigers have some space on their roster, and Scott Harris made it seem like he will not go out to fill that spot anytime soon, but things change. The Tigers opted to bring in a new face and option him to Triple-A Toledo.

Bennett Sousa, a 28-year-old reliever, was added to the Detroit Tigers organization and immediately optioned to Triple-A to join the Toledo Mud Hens. Sousa is a Florida native and University of Virginia alumni who has kicked around with a few big league clubs along the way.

In 2023, Sousa has pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates. He has logged time in the big leagues, managing two outings with the Brewers as a member of the big league club.

He may not be some high-profile reliever, but the hope is that he can come in and prove to be a depth addition. If he locks down a spot in the minors, he will serve as depth for the Tigers, similar to Braden Bristo's role when he was with the Tigers earlier in the 2023 season.

Sousa's time in the big leagues was not the prettiest. Sousa logged two outings, totaling 2.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out two in the process. Certainly not his finest work, but Sousa has spent most of the year in the minors.

With the Reds organization, Sousa logged one outing with the Cincinnati Reds, where he pitched in one-third of an inning, recording one out. He allowed a run, a hit, and punched out one opposing hitter. He has had some shoulder trouble and missed some time.

However, he was scooped up by the Brewers where he logged a scoreless inning in Rookie ball, but also had 16 outings at the Triple-A level with the Brewers affiliate in Nashville. Sousa logged 17.0 innings with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Sousa allowed seven walks and added 23 punchouts to his credit as well.

While it may not be the most exciting addition, and he may not possess some traits to make him a lockdown reliever, the Tigers have added him to the 40-man roster, filling that open spot that Harris said was going to remain open for the time being.

Sousa replaces the spot that was held by Isan Diaz, who was designated for assignment. The Tigers are hoping that Sousa will serve as depth as he joins the team's Triple-A affiliate.