Tigers Re-Sign Bryan Sammons to Minor League Deal: A Familiar Face Returns
The Detroit Tigers have announced the re-signing of left-handed pitcher Bryan Sammons to a minor league contract, according to Jon Morosi of The MLB Network. Sammons, a 6'4" southpaw, will join the team as a non-roster invitee for spring training.
This marks a return to the Tigers for Sammons, who spent the 2023-24 seasons with the organization. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins but signed with the Tigers from the independent ranks. Sammons made his MLB debut in July 2024, appearing in six games as a long reliever. During his brief time in the big leagues, he posted a 3.62 ERA over 27 1/3 innings.
His impressive performance caught the attention of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, who signed him to a guaranteed contract last winter. In the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league, Sammons had a decent year, working to a 3.78 ERA across 85 2/3 innings. However, his strikeout (19.6%) and walk (10.7%) rates were considered middling, and the 30-year-old is now returning to the affiliated ranks with a familiar team.
Sammons is expected to report to Triple-A Toledo, where he posted a 4.15 ERA over 102 innings in the previous season. He demonstrated a 23.1% strikeout rate against a 10% walk rate. Sammons' pitching repertoire includes a five-pitch mix, which he uses to compensate for his average fastball velocity of around 91 MPH.
This move by the Tigers is an interesting development, especially considering Sammons' previous success with the team. It will be intriguing to see how he performs in the minor leagues and whether he can work his way back to the big league roster. The Tigers' decision to re-sign him could be a strategic move, but it also raises questions about the team's overall pitching depth and strategy for the upcoming season.
