The Tigers announced Wednesday that they’ve designated outfielder Brewer Hicklen for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to right-handed pitching prospect Troy Melton, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Toledo (as was previously reported). In order to open a 26-man roster spot for Melton, ace Tarik Skubal was placed on the paternity list. Skubal can be absent for up to 72 hours.
Detroit picked up Hicklen in a March 28 trade sending cash back to the Brewers. He’s appeared in just one game for the Tigers in 2025, going 2-for-3 with a walk in that lone appearance. The bulk of Hicklen’s season has come in Triple-A, where he’s carrying a .227/.335/.394 batting line (99 wRC+) with eight home runs and 14 stolen bases. He’s walked at a strong 11.4% clip but also fanned in more than 30% of his plate appearances.
The 29-year-old Hicklen has just 13 major league plate appearances under his belt. The two hits he collected with Tigers were the first of his major league career. Hicklen has played in parts of four Triple-A seasons and has a .242/.351/.466 slash through 1598 plate appearances. He’s played all three outfield spots in his career and has good speed to go along with a solid track record in Triple-A (contact issues notwithstanding). He’s in the second of three minor league option years.
The Tigers will trade Hicklen or place him on waivers within the next five days. If he’s placed on waivers, that’ll be another 48-hour process. His DFA will be resolved within a week’s time. He hasn’t been outrighted to this point in his career and doesn’t have three years of big league service, so if he clears waivers Hicklen will stick with the Tigers as a depth option who’s no longer on the 40-man roster.
Now the Milwaukee BREWERS can bring BREWER HICKLEN Home !!
Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Skubal on the birth of their baby. On a purely selfish note, please come back by Saturday night so you can pitch a great game on my 60th birthday! We’ll have 20 butts in the seats at Comerica to celebrate!
He can’t be gone more than 72 hours so Saturday looks good
Maybe you’ll get a perfect game out of him, and really make your username come full circle lol
I wish they would’ve DFA’d Carlos Hernandez. No wonder Philly didn’t want him. Hicklen could just pass through waivers and accept an assignment with Toledo if he chooses. Once Kerry Bonds comes back hopefully that will be it for Hernandez and keep Melton up.
ActionDan – You’re right – Hernandez hasn’t been very good….the fact they don’t let him go tells me they’ve got no one else BETTER than him @ this point
Seems like there’s something they love from what they saw when he was with the Royals, makes no sense why he’s still on. Maybe DFA Carlos and let Melton or Dylan Smith run in the bullpen.
Hey Tigers- wake up! Last night’s game showed that you’ve gotten lackadaisical. Your quotes after the game reflect it. You haven’t won anything yet. Slumps will happen no doubt and it’s a long season. But your losing against bad teams. Your making these SP’s with 5 and 6 era’s look like mini Skubals. I’ve been waiting since ’84 for a chance that you guys win it all. I don’t care how many games you win, just win the division. Don’t blow it- wake up!
Dude there is 60 games still left. The trade deadline is still a week away. Despite sucking for almost two weeks they still have most wins. R E L A X
Haha.. the only thing you are correct about is how many games are left. Just make sure Chris and Scott get my message Chachi.
Torkelson shouldn’t be on the field. He turned a triple into a double from his lack of hustle. Has let two throws get past him and gave up on a play Set him down.
Or bench him. Were losing 6-0 as I type this. Not one hit. It’s just… Wow.
Meanwhile Torkelson went 3-4 last night while mostly every other hitter was striking out. Yea, send him down!
If we were to send people down I’d say Meadows and Veirling. We might have cut Margot a bit too soon. As rough as this stretch is, were an injury or two away from real concern.
After this game I want these guys in post interviews to just come out and say “we suck right now. It’s unacceptable”. Gleyber/Beaz- you guys are the vets. Get these kids out of this “we’ll be ok” mind set.
He needed to sit after what he did the whole week prior. He quit.
Brewer may clear waivers but he has good speed and good OF defense. Someone may take a chance but I expect him to be sent back to Toledo off the 40 man roster. Hernandez will probably be DFA when Skubal comes back.
One thing this skid has confirmed: Tigers need more offense.
It was already obvious they need bullpen help. But the offense needs it too. Detroit is really punchless too often. Meadows, Sweeney and Vierling aren’t getting it done. Before his HR Tues night, Jones wasn’t either, really. Seems like J-Hen would be an upgrade on one of those guys.
I agree but who? Imo it’s Suarez or bust but at what cost? Everybody wants him. We have needs at 3b, late innings and SP. Illitch and Harris won’t/can’t address all 3 based on their history. I think SP is a real need. How bout this: get two starters (Keller/Haney) and have Flaherty close the rest of the year. Yeah, I know… But if he wants a ring he’ll have to leggo his ego. Once we get Carpenter back send Mead and Veirling down. Bring up JHen and that kid 3bman till Mead and Veirling get it together.
I kinda feel the same way about Suarez (unless Cleveland suddenly wanted to rid itself of Jose Ramirez). But Arenado doesn’t move the needle for me at all, nor does the Pirates guy. I’d rather Colt get the 3B reps.
They’ll probably swap Jones for Carp next week. I’d bring J-Hen back up and send Sweeney down. Let Javy & McKinstry handle SS.
Vierling is showing some signs and I don’t think Meadows is far off. I have to remind myself they basically had to come back and have their own spring training at midseason against everyone else who were already up to mid-season form — in an already hella-hard sport.
AJ and Scott goofed with Parker and Matt. Once healthy they should have played a lot more in Toledo. They had no spring training and we were winning without them.
The Tigers front office is obsessed with minor league signings. I guess that’s how they’re staying busy
They should have hired the Superfife.
The Superfife should have hired a promoter.
Camanero has been on the radar for a long time…well before becoming an All-Star.
Now he’s an All-Star.
Brady House?
In a week, the Tigers will have gone 1-15, and be sellers at the trade deadline…..
***Reverse Jinx***