If there’s one fact about the Detroit Tigers’ management across the system, it’s that they believe their pitching depth is a real strength. During today’s press conference, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was asked by Daniella Bruce of FanDuel Sports Detroit about pitching depth being a position of strength.
“I had to have some tough conversations and tell multiple guys they weren’t on this team — whether in the rotation or bullpen,” Hinch said. “How we were going to construct the pitching staff was in question all the way up until the last week of the season.
“We have more capable guys in Triple-A who could be on our staff or someone else’s at this level. It’s not because they’re not good enough. Seeing our guys flourish, seeing them play well, and moving the parts around is just a continuation of what I felt in the spring. We made our decision point at Opening Day, and it’s carried even further into the season.
“We have a talented group. We have an awesome process to maximize outcomes. The players have all responded. We always say, ‘Give us as many hard decisions as you can.’ They have. Now it’s hard to stay on this team — and it’s hard to get on it.”
A part of the “awesome process” Hinch discussed was how certain players in the minor leagues have either learned a new pitch, adjusted their mechanics, or sharpened a particular offering to generate more swings and misses. Several pitchers early on could see time in Detroit by 2025 or even sooner, depending on how things unfold.
While these arms aren’t household names yet, neither were Sean Guenther or Brenan Hanifee when they got the call last season. With April nearly in the books, a few pitchers are already flashing the kind of stuff and early numbers that could put them on the Tigers’ radar.
RHP Matt Seelinger
The Detroit Tigers acquired right-handed reliever Matt Seelinger from the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League in June 2024. At the time of his acquisition, Seelinger had been dominating in the Atlantic League, recording 11 saves with a 0.44 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 31/8 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings in 21 appearances.
Originally drafted in the 28th round by the Pirates in 2017, Seelinger bounced around the Eastern League between Richmond and Reading prior going to the Atlantic League. In 27.1 innings with Erie in 2024, he has struck out 15.15 batters per nine with a 2.29 FIP.
So far this season, Seelinger has struck out 10 batters over 11.1 innings of work, primarily at Erie, before recently earning a call-up to Toledo. One true indicator of a reliever’s value is how well he can neutralize hitters, especially a right-hander facing left-handed batters.
Splits wise, in 2024 with Erie, he has held opponents to a .174 batting average and a .554 OPS, striking out 46 across 98 at-bats. He was especially tough on lefties, limiting them to a .170 average and a .562 OPS, while right-handers managed just a .178 average and a .540 OPS against him.
That success has carried into 2025, where left-handers are hitting just .080 against him with a .160 OPS, (2-for-25, 7 strikeouts) and right-handers are batting .167 with a .398 OPS. Featuring a sharp curveball and a cutter-slider mix, Seelinger consistently misses bats and shows an ability to dominate hitters on both sides of the plate.
LHP Bailey Horn
The Tigers’ journey with left-hander Bailey Horn has been a winding one. Originally drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Horn was traded to the Cubs in 2021 for Ryan Tepera, then returned to the White Sox in 2024 before being flipped to the Red Sox for cash considerations. Detroit first claimed Horn off waivers from Boston in November 2024 but lost him to the Cardinals a month later after a roster crunch.
In March, the Tigers reacquired Horn from St. Louis for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo. Horn features a lively 95-96 mph fastball, a sharp 82 mph sweeper, a tilting curveball, and a developing cutter in the high 80s.
96 MPH from Bailey Horn in his Toledo debut. Gets the strikeout with some 86 MPH action. pic.twitter.com/B7Td7SnZmE
— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) March 28, 2025
When I saw him opening weekend against Columbus, Horn was sitting 95–96 mph, struck out the side, and allowed just one hit, flashing the kind of power stuff scouts have long believed could play late in games.
His ability to miss bats has never been in question; even earlier this week in a brief appearance against San Diego, he struck out two, offering another glimpse of what he can do in a small sample size. It will be interested in how Chris Fetter and his staff can fix as far as his getting better command.
RHP Dylan Smith
Right-hander Dylan Smith, the Tigers’ third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Alabama, has transitioned to a bullpen role in 2025 after battling injuries and inconsistency in previous seasons. This move appears to be paying dividends. Through his first 10 innings at Double-A Erie, Smith has posted a stellar 0.90 ERA, including two shutout innings in a recent outing against Harrisburg.
Since moving to the bullpen, Dylan Smith has been a different pitcher. Over his first six outings for Double-A Erie, he has pitched 10 innings with just three hits and one run allowed, holding hitters to a .094 average while racking up 11 strikeouts.
His fastball now sits 95–96 mph and touches 97–98 in short bursts, pairing with a sharp mid-80s slider and a developing split-change. While the walk numbers are higher than ideal, it’s worth noting the strike zone in Double-A has been inconsistent at times but, cutting down on free passes will still be a key focus.
He has yet to allow a hit to right-handers, while lefties are batting just .143 against him. If Smith keeps commanding the zone and maintaining this level of dominance, he could also get some consideration later in the season.
RHP Yosber Sanchez
Back healthy and starting the season in Erie, Our reliever of the year in 2024, Yosber Sánchez has the kind of electric arm that can’t be taught. Sánchez was one of the few relievers in the system to touch triple digits last year, pairing a 100 mph fastball with a sharp breaking ball. If he can sharpen his command even marginally, Sánchez has the raw tools to become a late-inning weapon — and one of the biggest bullpen breakout candidates in the system.
Yosber Sanchez strikes out Shalin Polanco and the Lakeland Flying Tigers complete their 6-game sweep of Bradenton. @JoePuccio_ with the call. pic.twitter.com/7XXUHpmfiD
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) April 14, 2024
RHP RJ Petit
Petit was a steady presence out of the Erie bullpen in 2024, posting a 3.18 ERA over 34 innings with 33 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .238 batting average. His heavy fastball and tough downhill angle made him a difficult matchup, particularly against left-handed hitters. While his 2025 start has been slower, with right-handers doing some damage and a higher walk rate, it’s still early, and relievers with Petit’s size and delivery often need extra time to dial in their command from outing to outing.
Given his fastball velocity, extension, and ability to generate soft contact, Petit remains a potential bullpen piece to monitor as the season settles in.
The possibilities
As A.J. Hinch pointed out, pitching depth isn’t just about having options, it’s about creating real competition where earning a spot is genuinely difficult. Across the Tigers’ system, arms like Matt Seelinger, Dylan Smith, Bailey Horn, Yosber Sánchez, and RJ Petit are working to turn that competition into opportunity.
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Joe Rampe