Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris on bullpen market at trade deadline
Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris talks July 31, 2025, about his evaluation of the bullpen market at the trade deadline.
The Detroit Tigers have been anticipating the arrival of Drew Sommers.
It’s finally happening.
Sommers, a left-handed reliever, has been called up from Triple-A Toledo for his MLB debut, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was granted anonymity because the roster move is not official. The 25-year-old will join the Tigers for their upcoming three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, beginning Friday, Aug. 22, at Comerica Park.
To select Sommers, the Tigers need to make corresponding moves on the 26-man and 40-man rosters before Friday’s game.
The Tigers acquired Sommers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Feb. 12, 2025. The Rays traded Sommers to pick up right-handed reliever Mason Englert before he landed on waivers after being designated for assignment.
In 2025, Sommers registered a 2.53 ERA with 16 walks (7% walk rate) and 63 strikeouts (27.8% strikeout rate) across 57 innings in 42 games between Double-A Erie (15 games) and Triple-A Toledo (27 games). At the Triple-A level, he logged a 3.31 ERA with 14 walks and 41 strikeouts over 32â…” innings, without allowing a home run.
His next game will be in the big leagues.
For the Mud Hens, Sommers threw 38.6% sinkers, 32.9% sliders, 17.4% four-seam fastballs and 11.1% changeups. His sinker averaged 94.3 mph and maxed out at 96.4 mph; his slider generated an above-average 39.1% whiff rate.
Joining the Tigers, Sommers becomes the second left-handed reliever in the bullpen, alongside Tyler Holton. He projects to be relied upon heavily against left-handed hitters. Six of the next nine games are against the Royals, with seven left-handed hitters among their 13 position players.
Left-handers are hitting .165 with a .471 OPS against Sommers in Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, while righties are hitting .216 with a .588 OPS.
His sinker induces ground balls, while his slider misses bats.
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Sommers last pitched for Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the fourth inning against the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. He inherited two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Both runners were stranded.
Sommers retired three batters in a row: Jackson Cluff grounded out, J.T. Arruda struck out swinging and C.J. Stubbs flew out. The Arruda strikeout came on a slider.
As for the Tigers’ bullpen, recently optioned left-handed relievers Brant Hurter and Bailey Horn were not eligible to be called up. Pitchers must stay in the minor leagues for at least 15 days after being optioned, according to MLB rules. Therefore, Hurter can’t return until Sept. 1 and Horn can’t return until Sept. 2.
The Rays selected Sommers in the 11th round — at No. 344 overall — out of Central Arizona College in the 2022 draft. He is not ranked by MLB Pipeline on the Tigers’ top-30 prospects list.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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