Brady Smith, one of the prospects acquired by the Tigers in the Tarik Skubal trade, left his start for High-A West Michigan on Saturday night with an apparent right (throwing) arm injury.
Smith was facing his fifth batter of the game when he threw a pitch, and then shook at his right arm.
That prompted a quick visit from the trainer, and eventually Whitecaps manager Rene Rivera. Smith came out of the game after 1.1 innings, covering his mouth with his glove as he walked off the field at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park.
Smith, 21, was making his first home start for the Whitecaps since he was acquired Aug. 2 by the Tigers in the trade that sent Skubal, the two-time Cy Young winner, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Smith’s first start for West Michigan was Aug. 8 at Fort Wayne. He went five innings, allowed two earned runs on two hits. He walked two and struck out four.
In Saturday’s abbreviated start, Smith allowed one hit and a walk and struck out one. He threw 25 pitches.
Smith was making his 23rd start of this season.
He was a third-round pick by the Dodgers in 2023, out of high school. He had Tommy John surgery after signing with the Dodgers, and made his professional debut in 2025. Smith was one of three prospects acquired for Skubal, along with outfielder Zyhir Hope (who is at Double A) and right-hander River Ryan (who is on the injured list at Triple A).
Smith is the No. 10 prospect in the Tigers’ system, according to MLB Pipeline. Another prospect acquired at the deadline, High-A left-hander Kash Mayfield, was placed on the injured list this month. Mayfield, the No. 8 Tigers prospect according to Pipeline, had been nursing a hamstring injury. Mayfield was acquired in the Aug. 4 trade that sent Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers prospect acquired at deadline exits start with apparent injury
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
