Tigers assign prospects acquired in Tarik Skubal deal to minor league affiliates

Field Level Media|published: Sun 2nd August, 15:42 2026

Mar 14, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Zyhir Hope against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers announced the class and team assignments on Sunday for the three minor league players acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Saturday evening trade of two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

River Ryan, a 27-year old right-handed pitcher, will be assigned to Triple-A Toledo. The Charlotte, N.C. native started four games for the Dodgers in 2024, posting a 1-0 record and a 1.33 ERA. He suffered a right elbow UCL tear on August 10, 2024 and underwent Tommy John surgery later that month.

Ryan was an 11th round draft pick of the San Diego Padres in 2021. The Dodgers acquired him in a March 2022 trade, sending Matt Beaty to the Padres.

Ryan, who is ranked No. 68 on MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects list, missed the entire 2025 season and has pitched for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He is 3-1 with a 4.46 ERA in eight starts, but has struggled with a persistent right hamstring strain for most of the year and is currently on the IL.

Outfielder Zyhir Hope, who is ranked No. 25 on MLB Pipeline, has been assigned to Double-A Erie. The 21-year left-handed hitter, is competing in his fourth season of professional baseball. He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB draft and acquired by Los Angeles in January 2024 in a trade for Cubs' current first baseman Michael Busch and right-hander Yency Almonte. Left-hander Jackson Ferris also went to the Dodgers.

The Chesapeake, Va. native has been with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 2026 and is slashing .293/369/.530 in 94 games. Hope has slugged 23 home runs, driven in 87 runs and stolen 18 bases.

Brady Smith, a third-round selection of the Dodgers in 2023, will report to Single-A West Michigan. The 21-year old right-handed pitcher started the season in Ontario (Calif.), but was promoted to High A Great Lakes two weeks ago. He has started twice for the Loons and is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.

Overall, he's a combined 0-7 this season for two teams with a 4.36 ERA across 21 starts, with 113 strikeouts and 30 walks in 74 1/3 innings.

Skubal leaves the Tigers with a career regular-season record of 61-42 in 153 games (150 starts) and a 3.04 ERA with 1,005 strikeouts in 863 1/3 innings. This season, he is 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts.

--Field Level Media

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