Brady Smith was not the headliner for the Detroit Tigers in the Tarik Skubal trade. But, he appears to be a riser.
Of 85 prospects who were dealt leading up to Monday’s MLB trade deadline, Smith was one of five Baseball America identified on Friday as “ready to climb” prospect rankings in an analysis posted Friday.
Smith, a 21-year-old righthander pitcher, was considered the third prospect in the Tigers’ return from the Skubal trade, with Double-A outfielder Zyhir Hope and righthander River Ryan, whose already spent time in the majors and could help the Tigers late this season, generating the most attention.
Hope, who is at Double-A Erie, already has seen his stock jump, moving up 16 spots to No. 39 in Baseball America’s new top 100 prospects list released Wednesday.
Smith, meanwhile, is joining high Single-A West Michigan after racking up bushels of strikeouts over two levels with the Dodgers (113 in 74.1 innings), but had an 0-7 record, 4.36 ERA and 1.24 WHIP to show for it. He slotted in as the Tigers’ No. 15 prospect after the trade, according to MLB Pipeline.
Ian Cundall of Baseball America explains why Smith could be on the rise, starting with his continued progress following Tommy John surgery in 2023, shortly after he was drafted in the third round out of high school.
“This is the 21-year-old Smith’s first healthy professional season,” Cundall writes. “… Smith’s strike rates in 2025 were poor, but they’ve dramatically improved this season. His fastball strike rate is up 13% to 67%, and his control of his secondary pitches has improved across the board. In 2025, all three of his secondary pitches had strike rates between 43% and 46%. This season, his curveball’s 54% strike rate is the lowest of his secondary offerings, and his changeup’s strike rate has jumped from 45% to 64%.”
“… Smith has started working deeper into games as the season has gone on, and in June, he had 30 strikeouts compared to only three walks in 15 innings. Even though Smith has been in pro ball since 2023, he might just be scratching the surface of his potential and could end up being much more than the third piece in the Skubal deal.”
Smith was one of a half-dozen prospects the Tigers added at the deadline, including lefthander Kash Mayfield in the Casey Mize trade, and prospects as players to be named later in earlier deals for outfielder Jahmai Jones (getting lefthander Jojo Ingrassia from the Boston Red Sox) and catcher Jake Rogers (landing righthander and Hillsdale College product Zane Barnhart from the Baltimore Orioles).
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Brady Smith, new Tigers prospect, could be ‘ready to climb rankings,’ outlet writes
Reporting by Daren Tomhave, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daren Tomhave, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
