Third pitching prospect acquired by Tigers at deadline placed on IL

Nairavoice | Aug 20, 2026 1h ago 233 0 2 min read

Third pitching prospect acquired by Tigers at deadline placed on IL

Brady Smith, one of the pitching prospects who was acquired by the Tigers in the Tarik Skubal trade, has been placed on the injured list by the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Whitecaps made the announcement Thursday night.Smith, 21, left his last start Saturday with an apparent right (throwing) arm injury.

The Whitecaps, the Tigers’ High-A affiliate, haven’t specified the nature of the injury, as is the organization’s standard protocol with prospect. But Smith left his start Saturday after just five batters, and was shaking his arm before he was checked out by a trainer and walked off the mound at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park.

Smith was making his first home start for the Whitecaps, and his second start overall for his new team.

Smith was acquired by the Tigers in the trade that sent Skubal, the two-time American League Cy Young winner, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in early August. He was a third-round selection by the Dodgers in 2023, and had Tommy John surgery after he was drafted, before making his professional debut in 2025.

Other prospects in the trade included outfielder Zyhir Hope (who is at Double A) and right-hander River Ryan (who is on the injured list at Triple A). The Tigers also traded starting pitcher Casey Mize ahead of the trade deadline, and the top prospect brought back in that deal, High-A left-handed pitcher Kash Mayfield, also is on the injured list with an apparent hamstring injury.

Ryan (No. 4), Mayfield (No. 8) and Smith (No. 10) are among the Tigers’ top 10 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.

Smith has made 23 starts this season, and is 1-7 with a 4.24 ERA. He has 118 strikeouts in 80.2 innings.