After losing the rubber match Sunday against the Minnesota Twins, the Tigers traded catcher Carson Kelly to the Rangers for a pair of prospects in catcher Liam Hicks and right-hander Tyler Owens.
Hicks and Owens are both Double-A prospects with some decent potential considering the 30-year-old Kelly is set to become a free agent this winter.
The 25-year-old Hicks hit .260 with four home runs and 33 RBIs over 80 appearances for Double-A Frisco this season. However, the catcher has shown a nice ability to get on base posting a .364 on-base percentage this season. Slashing at .264/.380/.360 in Double-A, Hicks’ lack of power at the plate is believed to be his biggest hurdle in becoming an everyday MLB catcher.
Owens on the other hand has sported a 2.80 ERA in 35 1/3 innings of work as a long reliever in Double-A this season. Additionally, despite some command issues Owens utilizes an upper-90s fastball alongside a slider, a cutter, and a 24.5% percent strikeout rate this season.
