The Tigers on Monday looking to remedy an increasingly injured bullpen claimed right-handed reliever Carlos Hernández off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. The 28-year-old pitcher, who is out of minor-league options, will join the Tigers’ active roster immediately, filling that critical need for depth in their pitching staff.
Hernández, a veteran with six years of MLB experience, brings a high-velocity arm to Detroit. His four-seam fastball averages 97.8 mph, placing him in the 94th percentile league-wide, and he complements it with a splitter, slider, and knuckle curve. Despite his electric stuff, Hernández has struggled with consistency, posting a 5.26 ERA over 25⅔ innings in 25 relief appearances with the Phillies in 2025. His 18.7% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate reflect challenges with command, a recurring issue in his career.
The Tigers, who currently hold the best record in baseball, see Hernández as a potential reclamation project. Detroit’s pitching development staff, bolstered by coach Robin Lund, has a track record of refining pitchers’ mechanics, particularly in optimizing lower-half movement and pitching angles. Hernández’s upright delivery and tendency to over-rotate, which leads to yanked pitches or hanging sliders, could be an area of focus for improvement. The Tigers hope to harness his raw velocity and experience to turn him into a reliable bullpen arm.
Hernández is no stranger to the American League Central, having spent five seasons with the Kansas City Royals from 2020 to 2024. He has faced the Tigers 15 times in his career, more than any team except Cleveland, giving Detroit’s coaching staff familiarity with his arsenal. His best stretch came in the first half of 2023, when he posted a 3.67 ERA with a 30.2% strikeout rate over 54 innings, though his performance dipped later that year and in 2024 due to shoulder soreness.
The claim comes at a pivotal time for the Tigers, who are navigating bullpen challenges. The team designated veteran reliever John Brebbia for assignment on Sunday, June 15, opening a 40-man roster spot, and recalled right-hander Tyler Owens from Triple-A Toledo. However, with reliever Will Vest exiting Sunday’s game due to a right pinky injury, the Tigers may need to make another roster move to accommodate Hernández. Options include placing Vest on the 15-day injured list or optioning Owens back to Toledo. No update on Vest’s condition was available at the time of the claim.
By claiming Hernández, the Tigers assume the remainder of his $1.16 million salary for 2025. While his 4.98 career ERA across 282 innings suggests he’s not a guaranteed fix, his high-octane fastball and multi-pitch repertoire make him a low-risk, high-reward addition. The Tigers, led by president of baseball operations Scott Harris, are betting on their coaching staff’s ability to unlock Hernández’s potential, much like they’ve done with other pitchers. If successful, this move could provide valuable depth as Detroit pushes for a deep postseason run.
However, the acquisition is not without risk. Hernández’s lack of minor-league options means he must stick on the active roster or face the waiver wire again, where he could reject an outright assignment but would forfeit his salary. The Tigers’ bullpen, already in flux, will need Hernández to adapt quickly to avoid further roster shuffling. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if this gamble pays off or if Hernández becomes a short-term stopgap.
As the Tigers prepare for their upcoming series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park, starting Tuesday, June 17, Hernández’s addition signals their intent to stay aggressive in refining their roster. Whether he becomes a key contributor or a brief experiment, this move underscores Detroit’s commitment to capitalizing on their strong 2025 campaign.