Wilmer Flores and Eddys Leonard sign minors contracts with the Tigers

Right-hander Wilmer Flores and infielder Eddys Leonard were among the top 30 prospects in the Tigers’ system entering the year and, but for injuries, might have joined the many other candidates to make their Detroit debuts in 2024. Both were designated for assignment and became free agents last month to clear spots on Detroit’s 40-man roster. Both will be back in the Tigers camp and have the chance to fight for places again.

According to the transaction page, the Tigers re-signed Flores and Leonard to the minor leagues. Both will return to big league camp for spring training on non-roster invites, restoring organizational depth in some key areas.

Flores, the young brother of Giants infielder Wilmer Flores, was the Tigers’ third-best prospect in 2023, just behind Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung, and briefly cracked MLB Pipeline Erie’s top 100 list after a breakout season at Double-A . It was a meteoric rise for a former undrafted free agent coming out of Arizona Western College, but injuries derailed what seemed like a quick path to Detroit.

After an up-and-down 2023 season in Erie in which the velocity of his fastball fluctuated, the 23-year-old Flores was one of the bright spots in the Tigers’ spring training, displaying a fastball in excess of 99 mph in a multi-inning relief role. The Tigers kept him in that role at Triple-A Toledo, a move from the start in his first three professional seasons, but he struggled in 16 appearances for Toledo with an 8.53 ERA in a season marred by a right shoulder sprain was shortened. He had more walks (24) than strikeouts (23) over 25 1/3 innings for the Mud Hens.

Even during fights, Flores showed signs of his dominant self. He pitched two scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts on May 9 against St. Paul, and he had eight fastballs over 98 mph, topping out at 99 on April 25 against Worcester, according to Statcast. 9. But when he came back from his shoulder injury, he reached the top speed of 97.6 miles per hour. If he can regain his previous form and command, he should be in line for a call-up to Detroit’s bullpen at some point next season.

Leonard, who turned 24 last month, has consistently ranked in the Tigers’ top-30 rankings since being acquired by the Dodgers in August 2023. But after a season with 19 homers and 30 doubles across two levels in 2023, he made a strong impression in spring training, going 11-for-33 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. He would have been in line for a call-up after Andy Ibáñez went on Detroit’s injured list with a hamstring strain in early April. Unfortunately, a left oblique strain not only ended that opportunity, but also cost Leonard nearly two months of an injury-plagued season.

Leonard hit .263/.326/.455 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 26 RBIs in 67 games for Toledo. He played primarily at shortstop, second and third base, but also got some games in the outfield. He is playing for Aguilas in the Dominican League this winter. With the Tigers reliant on right-handers and Javier Báez coming back from hip surgery, Leonard has a chance to make a case for a spot in Detroit’s infield next season.