Aiken native Andrew Sears is set to make his Major League Baseball debut for the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, August 24, as a bulk reliever against the Kansas City Royals. The 23-year-old left-hander’s contract was officially selected by the Tigers, marking a significant step in his professional career.
To create space on the 40-man roster for Sears, the Tigers designated outfielder James Outman for assignment and optioned left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus to Triple-A Toledo. Outman was activated from the seven-day concussion injured list before being designated. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch informed reporters on Saturday of Sears’ impending promotion.
Sears recently advanced to Triple-A, where he pitched 9 2/3 scoreless innings across two appearances for Toledo. Before that, he maintained a 2.57 ERA over nine games at Double-A. Hinch expressed excitement about the promotion, noting Sears’ real weapons but acknowledging the significant leap given his limited Triple-A experience. Hinch stated that Sears has demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level.
MLB Pipeline ranks Sears as the No. 14 prospect in the Tigers’ system. He was previously higher on the list before the team acquired several high-profile prospects through trades involving Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. FanGraphs analysts Eric Longenhagen and Brendan Gawlowski had Sears at No. 11 entering the year, describing him as a low-slot lefty with a unique delivery, praising his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider.
In his two Triple-A outings, Sears’ four-seamer and sinker averaged 94 mph. He primarily relied on his sinker, using it 56.9% of the time, with his slider as his main secondary pitch at a 22.2% usage rate. He also incorporated a changeup. Sears has worked as a reliever in four of his 16 minor league appearances this year, including a five-hitless-inning performance for the Toledo Mud Hens in his most recent outing.
The Tigers are opting for a bullpen game on Sunday, pushing back Framber Valdez’s scheduled start. While there is no immediate opening in the rotation, an adjustment might be coming for Keider Montero. Montero, a right-hander, has accumulated 137 2/3 innings between the minors and majors this year, nearing his professional career high. He has previously worked out of the bullpen and could return to a more flexible role, potentially pairing with Sears.
