Skip to main content
Motor City Bengals
FanSided

Tigers could reunite with former reliever thanks to Orioles after Brant Hurter injury

It would be a very Scott Harris-ian move...
ByKatrina Stebbins|
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Reddit
Google Discover
May 18, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dietrich Enns (71) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
May 18, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dietrich Enns (71) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Tigers took their latest hit on Friday, when Brant Hurter exited their opener against the Orioles in clear discomfort. He was placed on the IL on Sunday, retroactive to Saturday, with lumbar spine inflammation.

Apart from an appearance against the Guardians in which he gave up three runs while recording just one out, Hurter has been one of the most dependable arms in Detroit's bullpen — and the best lefty of the Tigers' three. Tyler Holton has failed to return to the form the Tigers expected from him after great 2023 and 2024 seasons as a swingman, and Enmanuel De Jesus gives fans anxiety every time he gets onto the mound.

But the Orioles may have just handed the Tigers the perfect opportunity to reunite with a replacement lefty.

On Tuesday, they DFA'ed former Tiger Dietrich Enns despite decent results in this season in Baltimore. Just this Sunday, Enns pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings in the Orioles' walk-off win over the Tigers.

His 17 2/3 innings in Detroit last year were shaky, but the Tigers would be getting a known quantity as their options have been whittled down to almost zero.

Tigers should take another flier on former reliever Dietrich Enns after Orioles DFA

Enns was a minor league signing for the Tigers in the 2024-25 offseason after he spent three seasons between Japan and Korea. He was called up in late June as the Tigers' bullpen carousel was spinning at full force and remained on the roster for a month before being DFA'ed and traded to the Orioles for cash. He had a couple of blowups as a Tigers swingman (namely a four-inning, eight-run outing against the Nationals), but was still able to hold the fort, for the most part.

The Tigers' 40-man is full, but there are some prime candidates to be DFA'ed if they were to actually claim Enns off of waivers or swing a small-time trade for him (looking at you, Ricky Vanasco, Zack Short, and Enmanuel De Jesus).

Things are already very bad for the Tigers, so there's really nothing for them to lose by making this move. They could do worse than Enns, who has actually looked pretty solid this season apart from that one four-run blip.

Scott Harris loves to make small pitching moves like this. They usually baffle and/or enrage fans, but this one actually makes a little bit of sense.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Home/Detroit Tigers News