Tigers bring back 2 players on minor-league contracts who were on 40-man roster

Just days after removing them from their 40-man roster, the Detroit Tigers did right by a pair of prospects and brought them back on Minor League deals for 2025.

According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, right-handed reliever Wilmer Flores – no, not that Wilmer Flores, but his younger brother of the same name – and infielder Eddys Leonard were re-signed to Minor League contracts and received non-roster invitations to spring training.

The pair of prospects, who have been signed to Triple-A Toledo for now, were removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster last month after injury-riddled seasons to make room for a trio of pitching prospects who needed protection from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. Both Flores and Leonard will get a second chance to compete for MLB roster spots this season after last year's injury setbacks.

Eddys Leonard, Wilmer Flores get second chance with Tigers in 2025 after losing spots on 40-man roster

Flores, who missed more than three months in 2024 with a shoulder injury, is believed to have potential as a high leverage reliever and was ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Tigers' No. 3 prospect as recently as 2023. He posted a 7.84 ERA with 25 walks (16.3% walk rate) and 29 strikeouts (19% strikeout rate) over 31 innings in 20 games across two levels of Detroit's farm system.

Leonard, whom the Tigers acquired in the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2023, hit .253 with 11 home runs, 21 walks and 86 strikeouts (25.7% strikeout rate) in 82 games last season, including 67 games in Triple-A. During his time in Toledo, he hit .263 with 10 homers, 17 walks and 74 strikeouts, posting a .781 OPS. Leonard also missed significant time due to injury, however, spending more than two months on the IL with oblique and hamstring issues.

Flores and Leonard will likely begin the 2025 season in Toledo, but both have the potential to earn Major League call-ups next season with a Tigers team in need of bullpen arms, infield depth and right-handed bats.

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