BALTIMORE – Burch Smith has been one of the best relievers in the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen.
He just landed on the injured list.
The Tigers placed Smith on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, making the roster move Friday, May 22, before the opener of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
To replace him, the Tigers recalled right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee from Triple-A Toledo.
The severity of Smith’s injury is unclear.
The 36-year-old right-hander received a cortisone injection Friday afternoon, and upon being evaluated, the Tigers determined he wouldn’t be available.
Smith, a seven-year MLB veteran, owns a 3.18 ERA with seven walks and 20 strikeouts across 17 innings in 13 games (one start). He has an above-average 27.4% strikeout rate, which ranks in the 83rd percentile among MLB pitchers.
The Tigers promoted Smith on April 22 from Triple-A Toledo.
Since then, Smith’s 3.18 ERA ranks fourth among traditional relievers from the Tigers with at least 10 innings pitched – trailing only right-hander Drew Anderson (1.77 ERA in 20⅓ innings), right-hander Kyle Finnegan (2.84 ERA in 12⅔ innings) and left-hander Brant Hurter (3.00 ERA in 15 innings).
Smith isn’t eligible to return from the injured list until June 6.
Replacing Smith, Hanifee is making his second stint with the Tigers in 2026.
The 27-year-old posted a 1.93 ERA with one walk and five strikeouts across 9⅓ innings in seven games (two starts) during his first stint. He also recorded a 4.50 ERA with six walks and 13 strikeouts across 12 innings in 11 games for Triple-A Toledo.
Hanifee has built a reputation for dominating right-handed hitters, through his struggles against lefties have made it difficult for him to keep a roster spot in the big leagues.
In 2026, however, right-handed hitters have found success against Hanifee in a small sample size, hitting .288 with a .738 OPS across his combined 21⅓ innings between Triple-A and MLB.
That’s something to monitor.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers reliever Burch Smith sidelined with shoulder injury
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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