Tigers sign pitcher who could become Chris Fetter's next big project

Detroit Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter has worked his magic on plenty of resurgent arms over the past few years, from Michael Lorenzen to Jack Flaherty to 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Now, it's time for his next project.

The Tigers signed a pair of right-handed pitchers to minor-league deals this week in former Athletics and Washington Nationals prospect Richard Guasch as well as unaffiliated right-hander Dariel Fregio.

Guasch, 27, last played affiliated ball at Double-A Harrisburg (the Nationals' affiliate) in 2024 and is set to report to Double-A Erie after signing with the Tigers. Originally signed by the Athletics as a free agent out of Cuba in 2018, Guasch was traded to the Nationals in 2021 as part of a deal involving Josh Harrison and Yan Gomes.

Over the next three seasons, Guasch bounced around Washington's farm system, getting as high as Double-A before becoming a free agent after the 2024 campaign.

The Tigers' signing of Guasch, as first reported by Francys Romero, marks the right-hander's return to affiliated baseball after signing with Rieleros de Aguascalientes in the Mexican League for 2025 and pitching to a 1.93 ERA with 25 strikeouts and three walks in 13 appearances.

Tigers sign unaffiliated pitcher who could become Chris Fetter's next big project

The Tigers' decision to sign Fregio, who has never pitched in a Major League organization, is a rather curious one.

A native of Florida, Fregio played college baseball at Division II Saint Leo before spending two years playing in independent and international leagues. During the 2024 Frontier League season, he pitched to a 9-4 record and a 4.07 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 19 starts with the Washington Wild Things.

Fregio also spent time in the Australian League in 2024, where he saw eight starts and pitched to a 5.60 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 45 innings for the Perth Heat.

The 25-year-old has been assigned to the Tigers’ rookie affiliate after being signed on Thursday, and it's unclear what the plan will be for him moving forward. Then again, if anyone can uncover a diamond in the rough, it's Fetter, Baseball America's 2024 MLB Coach of the Year.

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