Ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, the Detroit Tigers have announced a trade involving catcher Carson Kelly, who is heading to the Texas Rangers. In exchange, the Tigers are receiving two Double-A prospects: catcher Liam Hicks and right-handed pitcher Tyler Owens.
Carson Kelly’s 2024 Season:
Kelly, who joined the Tigers last August after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks, has had a solid 2024 season. In 60 games and 179 at-bats with Detroit, he posted a .240 batting average and a .716 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage). He contributed seven home runs and 29 RBIs. Defensively, Kelly, alongside Jake Rogers, formed a formidable catching duo. The Tigers’ catching staff has caught 31% of attempted base stealers this season, ranking them second in MLB.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73487633/2162827825.0.jpg)
Prospects Acquired:
- Liam Hicks:
- Hicks, a 25-year-old catcher, has been playing with the Frisco RoughRiders, the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate. In 80 games, he has recorded a .260 batting average, a .717 OPS, four home runs, and 33 RBIs. Hicks was drafted by the Rangers out of Arkansas State in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
- Tyler Owens:
- Owens, a right-handed pitcher, has appeared in 26 games for the RoughRiders. He boasts a 2.80 ERA, 35 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched, and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.19. Owens, who was drafted in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves out of Trinity Catholic High School in Florida, has also accumulated eight saves this season.
Trade Deadline Details:
Both Hicks and Owens have yet to make their MLB debuts. The Tigers now have until 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 30, to complete any additional trades for the season.
