Tigers calling up another top prospect shows just how expansive their future plan is

After the Tigers traded Jack Flaherty at the deadline, leaving them with two healthy starters, AJ Hinch said Detroit had "a plan in place" to make up for the rotation deficit. That was probably a lie at worst or a measured way of saying "prepare for a lot of bullpen games" at best; either way, it didn't inspire any confidence.

Credit has to go to the Tigers bullpen for making it seem like the team has actually had a plan this whole time. Other than a particularly notable and disastrous outing for Kenta Maeda against the Cubs, Detroit's relievers have been able to help the Tigers get one game away from .500, and that's with Tarik Skubal getting an extra day of rest between starts.

Still, it's not a particularly sustainable strategy, and the Tigers still need reinforcements. On Sunday, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reported that No. 16 prospect Ty Madden would be called up to make his MLB debut on Monday. Madden will start the game against the White Sox to try to get the Tigers to .500.

Tigers to call up No. 16 prospect Ty Madden to make his MLB debut in a start against the White Sox

Although Madden will, at the very least, provide immediate relief to the bullpen and hopefully be able to get consistent starts through the rest of the season, excitement about his call-up does need to be tempered with some caution. Madden's had a rough year in Triple-A, and he's sporting a 7.97 ERA over 18 starts. In his latest outing, he pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs.

Still, Madden is following in the footsteps of no less than six Tigers prospects to debut this season: Colt Keith, Wenceel Pérez, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Bligh Madris, Jace Jung, and Trey Sweeney. Malloy and Madris have since headed back to Triple-A and Pérez's season ended with an oblique strain, but the Tigers are following through on their plan to place a foundation made of homegrown, young players.

Madden will also get a relatively easy first go of things against the White Sox, who lost their 100th game against the Tigers on Sunday en route to the worst regular season record of all time. His Triple-A ERA is worrisome, but if he can put his best stuff out there against Chicago and prove he can at least be serviceable through the rest of the season, the Tigers will be able to breathe a little easier.

In short, almost everybody is getting a chance as the 2025 outlook comes into focus.