Taking a deeper look at Toledo's Triple A roster -- and potential Tigers call-ups
Pitchers will be shuttling back and forth, as annually is the case between Detroit and Toledo. It's on the position side where there's deeper intrigue, and greater speculation, about promotions.
The Toledo Mud Hens were the only Tigers full-season minor league affiliate that didn’t make the playoffs in 2025.
Their 84-66 record was still tied for eighth-best in Triple-A, and the Mud Hens were especially strong in three primary functions for a Triple-A team: 1) reinforcing the big-league club’s roster, 2) helping refine or rehab MLB players when necessary, and 3) developing future big-leaguers.
With a deep lineup and pitching staff full of players with MLB experience, the 2026 Mud Hens are set to help AJ Hinch’s crew in Detroit and, maybe, return to the postseason for the first time since 2018.
All minor-league clubs are worth monitoring, but that’s especially true for Triple-A: a replacement from the Mud Hens is only one Tigers injury or prolonged slump away. Highlighting some of the more notable Toledo players:
Pitchers
The Mud Hens’ pitching staff is led by four from Detroit’s 40-man roster: Brenan Hanifee, Keider Montero, Ty Madden, and Drew Sommers.
Hanifee has pitched in 75 MLB games over the last two seasons, with a 2.62 ERA that ranks third among all Tigers pitchers with 50 or more innings. His 55.3% ground-ball rate ranks first and his 5.3% walk-rate ranks third. One of the last cuts of spring camp, odds are Hanifee soon will be back in Detroit.
Montero has been the Tigers’ de facto sixth starter since 2024. His 189 innings the last two years is the fourth most for Detroit. Montero’s trademarks are reliability and durability. Note also his postseason performance, where he’s yet to allow a run in 8.1 innings. Like Hanifee, Montero should make sure any apartment lease in Toledo is short-term.
Madden didn’t pitch in 2025 due to a rotator cuff strain, but in 2024 was strong down the stretch (23 innings, 4.30 ERA). The 32nd overall pick in the 2021 draft has a pedigree and a minor-league track record. Putting injuries behind him is key to any Detroit reunion.
Sommers was promoted to Toledo in late May 2025, and outside of an average 49th percentile Triple-A walk rate, the lefty reliever had comfortably above average (and in some cases better than that) advanced metrics. Sommers had a few cups of coffee with the Tigers late last season and could be in line for more big-league work this year.
A full 13 other pitchers on Toledo’s roster have MLB experience: Sean Guenther, Jack Little, Konnor Pilkington, Tanner Rainey, Bryan Sammons, Burch Smith, Ricky Vanasco, and Cole Waites, plus the currently injured Phil Bickford, Dugan Darnell, Scott Effross, Tyler Owens, and Colin Poche. It wouldn’t be a shock for any of those 13 to contribute this year in Detroit.
Lael Lockhart, Matt Seelinger, Woo-Suk Go, Troy Watson (currently on the 7-day IL) and Tim Naughton (60-day IL) also return from last year’s Toledo roster, and could be on the Tigers’ radar as potential call-ups, as well. The intriguing Tyler Mattison, with swing-and-miss stuff out of a high arm slot, rounds out the pitching staff and could be a factor in Detroit’s bullpen as the season progresses.
Hitters
Max Clark is the most recognizable Mud Hen and is one of the best prospects in all of baseball. A true five-tool player, Clark hit 14 homers in 2025 (up from nine in 2024) while walking more than he struck out. His 1.04 BB/K ranked 14th among 607 minor leaguers with 400 or more plate appearances in 2025, and his 148 wRC+ ranked 22nd. Clark’s rise has been quick. No sign of a slow-down through the season’s first week.
