Tigers move on from Dylan Smith to add Kevin McGonigle in roster moves
The Tigers needed to open a spot on the 40-man roster for top prospect Kevin McGonigle. The odd man out? It was former top draft pick Dylan Smith.
SAN DIEGO – The Detroit Tigers needed to open a spot on the 40-man roster for top prospect Kevin McGonigle . To do so, the Tigers designated right-handed reliever Dylan Smith for assignment as part of a series of roster moves ahead of Opening Day on Thursday, March 26, against the San Diego Padres. The 25-year-old has two minor-league options remaining, so he is likely to get claimed off waivers by one of the other 29 teams.
The Tigers selected Smith with the No. 74 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Alabama . BIG NEWS: Kevin McGonigle makes Tigers' Opening Day roster as top prospect The Tigers set their 26-man Opening Day roster after Tuesday's final game of spring training, but everything became official Wednesday – less than 30 hours before the Tigers' first game of the 2026 season.
The final roster battles featured McGonigle, center fielder Parker Meadows and outfielder Wenceel Pérez for two position-player spots, with McGonigle and Meadows winning those jobs. On the pitching side, left-hander Brant Hurter , left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus and right-hander Brenan Hanifee competed for two bullpen spots, with Hurter and De Jesus securing them. The Tigers optioned Pérez on Tuesday and Hanifee on Wednesday.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts ( Apple , Spotify ) ] Three players were sent to the injured list: right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, left-handed reliever Bailey Horn on the 15-day injured list as he continues his recovery from a left elbow arthroscopy and infielder Trey Sweeney on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. All three placements on the injured list are retroactive to March 22. That means Sweeney is eligible to be active for the Tigers on April 1, while Gipson-Long and Horn are eligible April 6 – though all three of them are expected to join Triple-A Toledo upon returning to full health.