Tigers Prospect Troy Melton Makes MLB Debut in Loss to Pirates

The Detroit Tigers promoted their No. 10 prospect, right-handed pitcher Troy Melton, to make his Major League Baseball debut on July 23 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, replacing Tarik Skubal who was placed on the paternity list. Melton, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, impressed in the minors with a combined 2.99 ERA and strong strikeout rates across Double-A and Triple-A, showcasing a fastball that averages 96.7 mph and effective off-speed pitches. In his MLB debut, Melton struggled early, giving up a solo home run to Andrew McCutchen and a grand slam to Spencer Horwitz, totaling six runs allowed over five innings, though he struck out seven batters and showed potential in later innings. The Tigers, who have been struggling recently with a 1-9 record in their last 10 games, hope Melton's addition can provide a spark to their pitching rotation alongside other starters like Skubal and Casey Mize. Whether Melton remains with the big league club will depend on his performance and how Keider Montero fares in upcoming starts. Despite the rocky debut, the Tigers see promise in Melton's command and strikeout ability, which could help the team recover from its recent losing skid.