Brady Smith injury update: Tigers pitcher in Tarik Skubal trade

Brady Smith, one of three players acquired by the Detroit Tigers in the Tarik Skubal trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been placed on the seven-day injured list, the West Michigan Whitecaps announced Thursday, Aug. 20.

Smith walked off the mound during the second inning Saturday in a start with High-A West Michigan, after throwing an offspeed pitch and showing discomfort in his right arm.

Smith, 21, was the Dodgers' No. 17 prospect at the time of the trade Aug. 1; he ranks as the Tigers' No. 10 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

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Hate to see this. Brady Smith, acquired in the Tarik Skubal trade, appears to suffer some arm discomfort and leaves the game. pic.twitter.com/U0Cf2luv8C

Smith, 6 feet 2 and 170 pounds, was a third-round pick in 2023 (No. 95 overall) by the Dodgers out of high school in Tennessee. As a senior at Grainger High, he struck out 101 and allowed only 15 hits in 48⅓ innings with a 0.87 ERA. He was a three-time All-State pick and had committed to Virginia Tech.

Smith had Tommy John surgery shortly after turning pro, missed all of 2024 and pitched just 21 innings in 2025.

At the time of the trade, Smith was striking out 13.7 batters per nine innings with Low-A Ontario and High-A Great Lakes. (Ignore his 0-7 record and his 4.36 ERA, as just about every pitcher struggles in the California League.)

He has an excellent changeup and his fastball is also liked by scouts, sitting at 93-96 mph, though his control is not yet there.

Smith is the Tigers' fifth-ranked pitching prospect and the third-ranked right-hander.

River Ryan, a 28-year-old who also came over in the Skubal deal, is the Tigers' top pitching prospect, ranked No. 4 overall in the farm system by MLB Pipeline. Ryan is expected to join the Tigers at some point this season.

Max Clark, who was called up a few weeks ago and will soo exhaust his prospect eligibility, is the Tigers' No. 1 prospect, and outfielder Zyhir Hope – also in the Skubal trade – is No. 2.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Brady Smith injury update: Tigers pitcher in Tarik Skubal trade

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