Detroit Tigers designate Kenta Maeda for assignment, bring up Tyler Owens
ANAHEIM, CA. — The Detroit Tigers bullpen has turned into a revolving door − with comings, goings and more to come − trying to find the right combination "to help us win."
The Tigers designated 37-year-old right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda for assignment May 1, while recalling Tyler Owens.
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In addition, reliever Andrew Chafin, who did not make the Opening Day roster and was pitching for Triple-A Toledo, signed with the Washington Nationals.
More: Kenta Maeda threw a pitch so bad for Detroit Tigers it didn't even get tracked by Statcast
Finally, reliever Beau Brieske has joined the Tigers in Anaheim, although he won't be eligible to return from the 15-day injured list until May 3.
President of baseball operations Scott Harris and Hinch told Maeda on May 1 at the team hotel in Anaheim.
'It's tough, because when he was good, he really helped us,' Hinch said. 'When he struggled, we really didn't get him back on track.'
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The Tigers signed Maeda to a two-year, $24 million contract on Nov. 28, 2023. He struggled as a starter in 2024 before ending the season in the bullpen. He made the 2025 Opening Day roster, moving to the bullpen fulltime, but he was used in low leverage situations. He pitched in seven games and had a 7.88 ERA.
Kenta Maeda of the Detroit Tigers reacts in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 29, 2025 in Houston.
'It's a frustrating end to his time here,' Hinch said. 'He was disappointed that he just didn't get on track and didn't contribute.'
While the Tigers have helped rehab several veteran pitchers, including Jack Flaherty, they were unable to get Maeda on track.
'It was a frustrating time for him,' Hinch said. 'We couldn't get him on track, and he couldn't get himself on track, and that is a bad combo.'
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Owens, a 24-year-old reliever, pitched in 12 games for Triple-A Toledo, striking out 11 and walking nine.
'We do want to create opportunity for the young players and young pitchers,' Hinch said. 'We're really excited about Tyler and some of the adjustments that we asked him to work on from the beginning of the season, specifically this last week.'
The Tigers acquired Owens on July 28, 2024, in the Carson Kelly trade to the Texas Rangers.
'He's got a good arm,' Hinch said. 'He's a good-looking prospect pitcher, and this is the next challenge for him. When we acquired him last year. I heard a lot about his aggressiveness.
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"I heard a lot about his pitches and his mix and his high-end velo. And then we got a chance to know him in the spring, and he was very advanced in the reliever mode, of being in attack mode, being somebody that comes in and challenges hitters.'
But he struggled to throw strikes this spring. But he made some adjustments over the last few weeks.
More: Javier Báez has recaptured some of the magic for Detroit Tigers
'When he got his delivery under control in Triple-A these last couple of weeks, he started to get better feel for his pitches,' Hinch said. 'He started to throw more strikes.
"He got off to a really slow start. As he's turning the corner, we feel like he's somebody who can be dynamic in the pen and get lefties out, get righties out, provided that his execution is there. I would think he can help us win.'
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And that is key.
The Tigers were using Maeda in low-leverage situations, refusing to pitch him in games that he might lose a lead.
'When I say this about all the guys that we bring up, we don't want a gap in our in our pen, where we feel like we can't use somebody or we feel like we want to stay away from somebody,' Hinch said.
Hinch was not certain what the Tigers would do when Brieske is eligible to return.
'We'll see how that all plays out,' Hinch said. 'We have to worry about today's game and tomorrow's game and get after it the best we can to win before we can even consider what to do with Beau.'
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Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers designate Kenta Maeda for assignment, call up Tyler Owens
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