Tigers News: Longtime pitcher released, Brady Smith injury, Awful Announcing rankings

The Tigers traded Carson Kelly to the Rangers in 2024 in exchange for catcher Liam Hicks and pitcher Tyler Owens. Hicks ended up being taken in the Rule 5 draft by the Marlins — which hasn't worked out so well for Detroit — but Owens was saved from that very same draft. The Tigers added him and two other pitchers to the 40-man roster.

He made his MLB debut last season but ended up pitching just three innings for Detroit, two in May and one in July. Although he gave up just one run in his last appearance, he was DFA'ed later in the month and released ... before re-signing a minor league deal the next day ... and then going onto the 60-day IL four days later.

He was invited to spring training but started the 2026 season on the IL again. After a rehab assignment, he was reinstated to the Double-A roster, not Triple-A, and posted a 4.19 ERA in 43 innings before being released by the team on Aug. 18.

You never know, though. The Tigers re-signed him one; maybe they'll do it again.

Tarik Skubal trade piece Brady Smith goes onto 7-IL after early exit

Brady Smith, the pitcher thrown in at the back end of the Tigers and Dodgers' Tarik Skubal trade, exited his latest start in High-A West Michigan after just 1 1/3 innings with clear arm discomfort earlier this week. On Thursday, the Whitecaps placed him on the 7-day IL.

It was a blow to Smith, who had already enjoyed a solid introduction to the organization (five two-run innings in his Whitecaps debut) and underwent Tommy John in 2023, right after the Dodgers drafted him. The Tigers' minor league affiliates are far less transparent about their injuries than the major league club, but in this case, no news is better news. Hopefully, Smith won't require surgery.

Tigers' broadcast team gets glowing marks from Awful Announcing's latest rankings

Tigers fans know we have one of the best broadcasts in baseball. Even on a miserable day, hearing Jason Benetti and/or Dan Dickerson, Andy Dirks, Dan Petry, Daniella Bruce, and more on Detroit SportsNet can always salvage things a little bit.

It's no surprise, then, that the Tigers' team ranks in the top 10 of Awful Announcing's annual team rankings. They're at No. 7 this year, one place up from 2025.

"No surprise to see the Tigers broadcast back up here, and many graders can't say enough about how much the arrival of Benetti has transformed the vibes," they wrote. "Overall, it's clear the Tigers' booth is widely considered an elite TV broadcast."

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