This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
BreakingAIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Breaking down Detroit Tigers prospects from Tarik Skubal deal
The three newest Detroit Tigers could make a big-league impact sooner than you expect.
The Tigers traded lefty ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, Aug. 1, for a package of three prospects – outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-handed pitcher River Ryan and right-handed pitcher Brady Smith. The reaction to the trade has been polarizing, with fans bemoaning the Dodgers' buying power and MLB experts chastising the Tigers for not getting more out of the deal.
But the Tigers didn't come away with nothing from the two-time defending World Series champs. Hope and Ryan are top-100 prospects, per MLB Pipeline , and immediately slot in among the organization's top five prospects, with Smith ranked at No. 14. That will likely be the best haul any deadline seller will receive this season, and one that could provide value at the MLB level before the 2026 season ends.
CARLOS MONARREZ: Forget Tigers' return for Tarik Skubal; Scott Harris still gets an A
Let's break down who the Tigers got in return for their ace.
OF Zyhir Hope
Age: 21.
Bats/Throws: Left/left.
Height: 5-10.
Weight: 195 lbs.
MLB Pipeline Top 100: 25.
Highest level: Double-A.
It's not a consensus, but most prospect experts tag Hope as the top player in the Tigers' return.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Hope in the 11th round of the 2023 draft and then sent him to Los Angeles in a deal that brought first baseman Michael Busch to the North Side. Hope added strength while in the Dodgers' organization, which turned into power as the outfielder launched 13 home runs and 29 doubles over 127 games at High-A Great Lakes (in Midland, if you didn't know) and Double-A Tulsa.
But then Hope took the whole "just hit a bunch of homers" strategy even further in 2026, hitting 23 over 94 games in Tulsa, second-most of any Dodgers minor leaguer and fifth-most of any player in the Texas League this season. That's even better than the Dodgers' top prospect (and Hope's Tulsa teammate) Josue De Paula – the No. 4 prospect in baseball.
Once Max Clark logs enough MLB time this season to shed his prospect status, Hope will become the No. 1 prospect in the Tigers' organization. And if he can keep slugging this season, and perhaps have a Clark-like rise through Triple-A Toledo in 2027, Tigers fans may see him for a late-season run in right field next year.
RHP River Ryan
Age: 27.
Bats/Throws: Right/right.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 195 lbs.
MLB Pipeline Top 100: 68.
Highest level: MLB.
River Ryan wasn't the most MLB-ready pitcher the Tigers could have gotten from the Dodgers, but he may provide the most immediate positive impact of any Dodgers pitching prospect.
Ryan was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round of the 2021 draft as an infielder, with a positional change and injuries slowing his ascent to the majors. Ryan threw for a 1.33 ERA over 20⅓ innings once he made his MLB debut for the Dodgers in 2024, but a UCL tear led to Tommy John surgery and ended his 2025 campaign.
The ceiling for Ryan is pretty high, with a fastball that can reach 100 mph and a slider than reach the low-90s. But even though his stuff can look electric, he's only as valuable as his availability, as he has struggled with hamstring injuries upon returning to pitch in Triple-A in 2026.
If the Tigers can get him healthy and pitching a starters' workload in Triple-A Toledo, it's possible that Ryan can be ready for a potential playoff push before the end of 2026. But with neither Detroit's playoff chances nor Ryan's injury history looking that encouraging, it's more likely Ryan's debut wearing the Old English "D" will come during spring training in 2027 – assuming a looming work stoppage doesn't erase Grapefruit League play, of course.
RHP Brady Smith
Age: 21.
Bats/Throws: Right/right.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 170 lbs.
MLB Pipeline Top 100: N/A.
Highest level: High-A.
The only player the Tigers got back from the Dodgers who was originally drafted by the Dodgers (third round in 2023), Brady Smith didn't make his pro debut until 2025, after Tommy John surgery wiped out his entire 2024 season. And even then, his 21 combined innings in rookie ball and the homer-happy California League in 2025 doesn't give evaluators much to work with.
That makes 2026 the only season to get a read on the 21-year-old, with Smith striking out 13.7 batters per nine innings for Low-A Ontario and High-A Great Lakes (you can ignore his 0-7 record and his 4.36 ERA, just about every pitcher struggles in the California League). Prospect evaluators like his stuff, but at just, again, 21 years old, and with fewer than 100 professional innings under his belt (in the low-minors, no less), it might take a couple of years before anyone gets a worthwhile read on Smith.
Detroit TigersTarik SkubalScoutingLos Angeles DodgersThe TigersAugZyhir HopeRiver RyanBrady SmithDodgersMLBTigers
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
