With several players eligible for the Rule 5 draft and worthy of being added to the 40 man roster after the season, the Detroit Tigers are going to have to make some tough calls.
Every offseason, MLB teams need to make decisions on who to add to their 40 man roster, based on players being eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
For some time, due to (let’s politely call it) a “lack of strength” of their 40 man roster, the Detroit Tigers didn’t have to make many hard decisions on who to protect. Folks, that time is now over.
As of May 12th, the Tigers currently have 44 players on their 40 man roster, which doesn’t make since but is due to six players currently being on the 60 day injured list. If and when all six return from the IL, two players will unfortunately need to be removed from the 40 man roster to make room.
Of those 44, only three will be what we’ll call “for sure” free agents after the season: Alex Cobb, Tommy Kahnle and Gleyber Torres. Jack Flaherty, José Urquidy and John Brebbia have options on their contracts at the end of the year, and just for math’s sake, let’s say they all return to the Tigers in 2026. The only other potential free agent for now is Tomás Nido, and again for math’s sake, let’s assume he accrues the necessary amount of service time to become a free agent after the year.
If all of the “for math’s sakes” above come to fruition, the Tigers’ 40 man roster could be at exactly 40 to end the year. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to calculate that 40 roster spots occupied by 40 players doesn’t leave much room for additions.
Fortunately (and unfortunately) for the Tigers, due to the strength of their minor league system, there are several eligible players that will be worthy of consideration to be added to the 40 man roster at the end of the year, to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Let’s take a look at how those players are performing so far in 2025, with their current minor league level listed and TMLR top prospect list ranking in parentheses:
Hao-Yu Lee (#4), AAA: 150 PA, .220/.307/.326, 10.7% BB rate, 22% K rate, .106 ISO
Despite some inconsistencies in the early going of the ’25 season, Lee is a virtual lock to be added to Detroit’s 40 man roster this offseason. He has a believer in Scott Harris, he’s performed every season against older competition, he’s still managing the strike zone, and he entered the year as a borderline top 100 prospect in baseball.
Thayron Liranzo (#6), AA: 87 PA, .169/.322/.310, 18.4% BB, 36.8% K, .141 ISO
You could copy and paste most of what was written about Hao-Yu Lee here, except that Liranzo is a surefire top 100 prospect in all of baseball according to most public evaluators. Thayron’s offensive production to date in the 2025 season is less than what we are accustomed to, but as a catcher adjusting to a new level, some growing pains were to be expected. Zo is facing players that are 2.7 years older than him on average per Baseball Reference; let’s give him some time to find his footing.
Troy Melton (#9), AA: 25.2 IP, 3.51 ERA / 2.84 FIP, 25.2% K rate, 8.4% BB rate, 38.6% GB rate
Another lock to be added to the 40 man, Melton has gotten off to a solid start at Double A Erie this year. Troy is repeating AA to start the ’25 campaign, and while his strong strikeout and walk rates are fairly consistent with last season, he has shown notable improvement in keeping the ball in the ballpark (1.70 HR/9 in ’24, 0.35 HR/9 in ’25). Oddly enough, Melton has reverse platoon splits in 2025, as righties are hitting .283/.327/.435 compared to lefties hitting .216/.293/.373.
Roberto Campos (#12), AA: 108 PA, .297/.387/.396, 13% BB, 27.8% K, .099 ISO
More than any other player in the Tigers’ minor league system, Campos seems to have the most “prospect fatigue” amongst fans, through no fault of his own. The truth is that Roberto has slowly but steadily worked his way up the minor league ladder, while always facing competition older than himself (including this year, where he’s 1.7 years younger than the league average), and always performing better than the league average according to wRC+.
In his first taste of AA this season, he’s actually having the best year of his career, with a 133 wRC+ in 27 games played. His walk rate in 2025 is way up compared to his career numbers, which is a good sign that he’s figuring some things out at the plate; but he’s also putting the ball on the ground perhaps a little too often (54.1%), which is an area the Tigers would surely like to see improvement.
Jake Miller (#13), AA: 17 IP, 2.12 ERA / 2.98 FIP, 23.9% K, 6% BB, 31.9% GB
Miller had a quietly excellent season in 2024, tossing just over 87 innings with a 1.85 ERA / 2.50 FIP, 30.4% K rate, 5% BB rate, 43.9% GB rate and just 0.52 home runs allowed per nine. He’s picked up right where he left off in 2025 despite a promotion, but is currently on the 7 day injured list. If Jake can get back on the mound healthy and continue to put up gaudy numbers, he’s also a virtual lock to be added to the 40 man this offseason.
Rayner Castillo (#14), +A: 22.2 IP, 5.16 ERA / 4.65 FIP, 17.3% K, 8.2% BB, 52.9% GB
Castillo was signed as an international free agent back in 2021, so despite being just 20 years old until the end of June, he will be Rule 5 eligible this offseason. The big righty has a big arm, and keeps the ball on the ground while limiting walks and home runs. Rayner had a 2.52 ERA in just over 60 innings last year at Low A Lakeland, and despite going through a bit of a learning curve in High A to begin the ’25 season, could merit some 40 man discussion this offseason, based on his raw talent.
Joseph Montalvo (#16), AA: 23 IP, 5.48 ERA / 5.22 FIP, 15% K, 11% BB, 41.1% GB
Scott Harris targeted Montalvo in trade talks with Texas last July, and for good reason: despite being a year younger than the competition, the right hander was excellent in the 2023 season (95.1 IP, 2.83 ERA, 27% K rate, 9.8% BB rate) and similarly excellent in the 2024 season prior to being acquired (59 IP, 2.44 ERA, 29.9% K rate, 7.8% BB rate). The Tigers opted against protecting Montalvo in last year’s Rule 5 Draft, but if he can get back to his normal level of production in AA this season, they’ll have a harder time slipping him through the cracks this offseason.
Garrett Burhenn (#24), AA: 27 IP, 2.67 ERA / 2.80 FIP, 22.5% K, 6.3% BB, 50.6% GB
Burhenn is a Rogelio Castillo favorite, and for good reason: he’s just a good pitcher. Look no further than 2024, where in just over 122 innings split between High A and AA, he posted a 3.68 ERA, with a 23.7% K rate, 8.1% BB rate, and 0.96 HR/9. Burrr has been even better this year back at AA Erie, lowering his walk rate and home run rate from last year while also upping his groundball rate significantly. Whether or not Burhenn’s future is as a starter or in the ‘pen, if he keeps this up, his future could also be on the Tigers’ 40 man roster.
Gabriel Reyes (#26), A: 11.2 IP, 6.17 ERA / 5.22 FIP, 17.3% K, 3.8% BB, 46.2% GB
Reyes was one of 2024’s most pleasant surprises in the Tigers’ minor league system. In 65.2 innings in Low A Lakeland, his ERA was a solid 3.97; but advanced stats painted an even rosier picture: 3.32 FIP, 31.1% K rate, 7.2% BB rate, 51.9% GB rate, 0.82 HR/9.
Gabriel has solid command and control of his potent left handed arsenal, but hasn’t quite taken off yet in 2025. If he does, just like with Rayner Castillo, the Tigers will need to have a chat about whether or not Reyes is worth a 40 man spot.
Yosber Sanchez (#36), +A/AA: 11.1 IP, 1.59 ERA / 3.61 FIP, 22.7% K, 13.6% BB, 51.9% GB
Whereas Gabriel Reyes may have been the biggest surprise out of the rotation in the Tigers’ farm system last year, Yosber Sanchez may have been the biggest surprise out of the bullpen. With fire in his right arm, Sanchez mowed through both A ball levels last season, to the tune of a combined 61 IP, 1.92 ERA (and 2.89 FIP), 31.5% K rate, 11.5% BB rate, 50% GB rate and just 0.30 HR/9.
Yosber was promoted to Double A to begin the 2025 season, and has acquitted himself just fine, thank you. Sanchez has historically carried a slightly higher than desired walk rate, but if he’s able to make some gains in that area, the Tigers will have to think long and hard about adding him to the roster in November.
RJ Petit (#41), AA: 17 IP, 2.65 ERA / 2.15 FIP, 30% K, 8.6% BB, 37.5% GB
We were lying earlier when we mentioned that Gabriel Reyes and Yosber Sanchez were the “biggest” minor league surprises on the mound in 2024; that honor would go to 6’8” RJ Petit. The big man took some (big) steps forward last year, by significantly increasing his strikeout rate and groundball rate, and significantly lowering his FIP and home run rate from 2023.
Detroit opted to keep Petit in Double A Erie for the third straight season at the beginning of 2025, but with RJ having the best year of his career so far, a promotion to Triple A Toledo should be in the cards soon. Like with some others on this list, the Tigers did not protect Petit from the Rule 5 Draft last offseason, where he went unselected; a decision that now looks like a lucky one for Detroit. They may not get so lucky this time around if he’s not added to the 40 man after the season.
Seth Stephenson (N/A), +A: 133 PA, .257/.374/.394, 9.8% BB, 14.3% K, .138 ISO
Stephenson is the fastest player in the Tigers’ minor league system, and it may not be particularly close. A prolific base stealer, Seth stole 70 bags in 2023 and 60 in 2024, and is on pace for another 40+ this season. Stephenson isn’t a one trick (fast) pony either; in 2023, between Low and High A, he hit a combined .280/.381/.400 with an 8.3% walk rate and 21.4% strikeout rate, and followed that up in 2024 with a .263/.349/.342 slash with a 7.8% walk rate and 17.8% strikeout rate at High A.
Back in Lakeland to begin the 2025 season, Seth has shown vast improvement at the plate, increasing his walk rate by 2%, lowering his strikeout rate by 3.5% and bumping his ISO by 0.58 points compared to last season; resulting in a wRC+ of 129. An all around solid player, he also has 3 home runs on the year after hitting 5 all of last season. Whether or not he gets the call to the 40 man this offseason, Stephenson has put himself firmly on the radar.
Wilkel Hernandez (N/A), AAA: 36.2 IP, 2.45 ERA / 3.07 FIP, 23% K, 9.2% BB, 38.8% GB
Acquired in the Ian Kinsler trade (*checks notes, then checks again*) 7 years ago, Hernandez has made quite the journey up the minor league ladder since coming to the Tigers’ organization. But he’s at the top rung now, and having the best year of his career. As “they” say, development isn’t linear, and Wilkel is a perfect example of that.
Hernandez has been spectacular this season, and in his past five starts especially: 25 IP, 3 ER, 19 H, 7 BB, 25 K. It would be quite the redemption story if Hernandez earns his way to a 40 man spot this offseason, but one that may not be unexpected if he keeps this pace.
Tanner Kohlhepp (N/A), N/A: Currently injured
Kohlhepp was the Tigers’ 5th round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, which meant he was eligible for the Rule 5 draft last offseason. Fortunately for Detroit, he was not selected; but unfortunately for Detroit and Kohlhepp himself, the right hander has battled some fairly significant injuries since arriving in the Tigers’ farm system, including now, as he’s currently on the shelf with an elbow injury. But take a look at this video from spring training, and you’ll see why there may not be a reliever in the system with more upside than a healthy Tanner Kohlhepp.
Armed with a mid to high 90s heater, knee-buckling curve and legitimately unfair changeup, Tanner struck out 28.6% of the batters he faced in High A Lakeland last year, after striking out 35.1% of batters faced in Low A West Michigan in 2023. Kohlhepp also keeps the ball on the ground, and has allowed just 2 home runs in 85 minor league innings to date.
A slightly elevated walk rate and health are the main factors holding back Kohlhepp currently, but if he can get back on the mound this year, the Tigers may have no choice but to protect him this offseason, and potentially insert him into the back of the bullpen as soon as 2026.
Dylan Smith (N/A), AA: 18 IP, 2.00 ERA / 2.00 FIP, 34.3% K, 10.4% BB, 43.2% GB
Since we are (mercifully) almost done here, I have just five words for you: Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan and Dylan. (Ok there’s a few more than that left.) Smith was the Tigers’ 3rd round selection of the 2021 MLB draft, and like with Wilkel Hernandez, it’s been a winding road to get to this point. But we are here, and again just like with Wilkel, Dylan is having the best year of his career. Like most starters-turned-relievers, Smith’s stuff has ticked up in a full time move to the bullpen, and the results back up the stuff. Dylan has been one of the best relievers in the Tigers’ minor league system this season, and if he’s not already on the 40 man and in Detroit by November, he’s a good candidate to be added after the season.
Drew Sommers (N/A), AA: 18.1 IP, 1.96 ERA / 3.28 FIP, 25% K, 2.9% BB, 61.2% GB
Last but not least, we have one more reliever that will warrant serious consideration to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason, and that is left hander Drew Sommers. While Scott Harris inherited many of the players on this list, just like with Joseph Montalvo, the Tigers’ POBO specifically targeted Sommers in a trade, this time with Tampa Bay. Drew’s minor league career began in 2023, and he’s done nothing but shut down opposing hitters ever since: in 115.1 career innings, he has a 3.20 ERA, backed up by 11.5 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 0.6 HR/9. He’s also never had a groundball rate below 53.3%, and in 2025, he’s having the best season of his career, despite being at the highest level of his career (AA). Sommers is tall (6’3”) and throws out of a unique arm slot, which we all love those unique arm slots. My guess is the Tigers do too, and my other guess is that they’ll take a look at adding Sommers to the 40 man this offseason.
We are now 2,395 words into this thing, so if you’ve made it this far, thank you; and let’s wrap it up. The Tigers may be entering the 2025 offseason with a full 40 man roster, which as we’ve seen, doesn’t have many holes. What we’ve also seen is that so far, there are a few handfuls of Tiger minor leaguers that will not only be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, but will also be worthy of being selected if they’re not protected. Your guess is as good as mine about who will be added to the 40 man this offseason, but by my count, there are at least 16 players worth considering. The impending roster crunch is finally here, and Scott Harris and company will have their work cut out for them at the start of the offseason.
Chris Brown 
Emily Waldon 
Rogelio Castillo