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Detroit Tigers protect 3 pitching prospects from Rule 5 draft, make cuts for roster space
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- Detroit Tigers protect 3 pitching prospects from Rule 5 draft, make cuts for roster space
The Detroit Tigers selected three right-handed pitching prospects to their 40-man roster — Chase Lee , Tyler Mattison , Tyler Owens — before Tuesday's deadline to protect eligible players from being selected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
All three of them work as relief pitchers.
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The Tigers acquired Lee and Owens from the Texas Rangers in separate trades at the 2024 trade deadline, whereas Mattison has been in the organization since the 2021 MLB draft.
The Rule 5 draft is scheduled for Dec. 11 at the winter meetings in Dallas. The notable players that the Tigers left unprotected include outfielder Justice Bigbie , right-handed reliever Tanner Kohlhepp and right-hander Joseph Montalvo .
PREVIEW: Tigers could add these prospects to 40-man roster to protect from Rule 5 draft
In the Rule 5 draft, teams can selected unprotected draft-eligible players for a fee of $100,000. A selected player must stay on the 26-man roster (or the injured list) for the entire 2025 season. If removed from the roster, the player will be placed on waivers and offered back to their original team for $50,000.
Detroit Tigers right-hander Tyler Owens with Double-A Erie in the 2024 season.
The Tigers created space on the 40-man roster for the three pitching prospects by designating for assignment infielder Eddys Leonard , right-handed reliever Ricky Vanasco and right-handed reliever Brendan White .
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The 40-man roster remains at 40 players.
Chase Lee, Tyler Mattison, Tyler Owens
Mattison is the headliner of the three right-handed relievers added to the 40-man roster.
But Mattison didn't pitch in 2024.
The 25-year-old, a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Bryant University , underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-March to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. As of late August, he was completing a throwing program three times per week. He should be healthy at some point early in the 2025 season.
Detroit Tigers right-hander Tyler Mattison pitches for Double-A Erie in the 2023 season.
In 2023, Mattison posted a 2.41 ERA with 28 walks and 91 strikeouts across 59⅔ innings in 41 games with High-A West Michigan (19 games) and Double-A Erie (22 games). For the SeaWolves, Mattison registered a 1.62 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 33⅓ innings — averaging 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
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His fastball averages 95 mph with ride and deception to generate whiffs. He also misses bats with his curveball and changeup. The fact that Mattison already possesses three swing-and-miss pitches opens the door to his MLB debut in 2025, as long as he performs in Triple-A Toledo.
Lee, whom the Tigers acquired in the 2024 Andrew Chafin trade , is a low-velocity reliever with a sidearm delivery. Entering 2025 spring training, he is the closest to his MLB debut among the three pitching prospects and could compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The 26-year-old logged a 2.76 ERA with 11 walks and 42 strikeouts across 32⅔ innings in 25 games with Triple-A Round Rock (eight games) and Triple-A Toledo (17 games).
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Lee had 31 strikeouts — compared to only four walks — over 22 innings after the trade from the Rangers to the Tigers. His four-seam fastball averages just 89.5 mph, but he relies on the pinpoint location of his four pitches, including a high-spin slider, for strikeouts.
Owens, whom the Tigers acquired in the 2024 Carson Kelly trade , was left unprotected by the Rangers in last year's Rule 5 draft, but he wasn't poached. This time, the Tigers protected him after a full season at the Double-A level.
The 23-year-old registered a 2.96 ERA with 16 walks and 55 strikeouts across 51⅔ innings in 39 games for Double-A Frisco (26 games) and Double-A Erie (13 games). After the trade, he struck out 20 batters in 16⅔ innings.
Owens has a four-pitch mix that has the potential to attack both handed hitters in all quadrants of the strike zone. Not only does his fastball sit around 95 mph and touch 99 mph, but it generates swings and misses. He also throws a slider, cutter and splitter.
Rule 5 draft candidates
Here's the full list of 2024 Rule 5 draft-eligible players from the Tigers' organization:
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Right-handed pitchers (18): Jack Anderson, Austin Bergner, Michael Bienlien, Garrett Burhenn, Sadrac Franco, Aaron Haase, Eiker Huizi, Marco Jimenez, Tanner Kohlhepp, Jordan Marks, Matt Merrill, Joseph Montalvo, RJ Petit, Angel Reyes, Yosber Sanchez, Matt Seelinger, Dylan Smith, Bryce Tassin.
Left-handed pitchers (5): Lael Lockhart Jr., Andrew Magno, Carlos Pena, PJ Poulin, Gabriel Reyes.
Catchers (8): Eliezer Alfonzo, Josh Crouch, Liam Hicks, Ricardo Hurtado, Newremberg Rondon , Stephen Scott, Sergio Tapia, Eduardo Valencia.
Infielders (8): Trei Cruz, Daneurys De La Cruz, Jake Holton, Corey Joyce, Carlos Mendoza, Chris Meyers, Andrew Navitago, Gage Workman.
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Outfielders (8): Brady Allen, Justice Bigbie, Daniel Cabrera, Roberto Campos, Jose De La Cruz, Nomar Fana, Ben Malgeri, Austin Murr.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers protect 3 pitching prospects from Rule 5 draft
