The Detroit Tigers entered the 2026 campaign with some serious expectations, but through 15 games, they have come nowhere close to delivering the goods. With a 6-9 record, the Tigers are in fourth place in the American League Central division, and while the season is still young, this team has some work to do if it intends on becoming a legitimate World Series contender.
Issues have popped up all over the board for Detroit, and its front office is looking for ways to improve the roster, even after it partook in a fairly busy offseason of work. On Saturday, that led to the Tigers taking a look at a former star Kansas City Royals outfield prospect, in hopes that he could find his way with them.
Tigers Sign Tyler Gentry to Minor-League Contract
Gentry was selected in the third round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Royals, but he was never able to truly find his way with the team. While he quickly rose through the minors, Gentry struggled to make it past Triple-A, as he only briefly made his major league debut for Kansas City in 2024, appearing in just three games.
In 2025, Gentry spent the entire year at Triple-A, and his numbers weren’t particularly good. In 86 games, Gentry posted a lowly .206 batting average with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. While he competed for a roster spot with K.C. during Spring Training, the team ultimately decided to cut ties with Gentry and move on from him ahead of the start of the new season.
While he hasn’t been able to generate any sort of consistency to this point in his career, Gentry still has a decent amount of potential, even at 27 years old. The Tigers decided to take a flier on him, as they signed Gentry to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A, where he will provide Detroit with another layer of depth at the outfield position.
“Tigers signed OF Tyler Gentry to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo,” Jason Beck of MLB.com reported in a post on X. “Gentry played in 3 games for Royals in 2024. He hit .206/.284/.371 in 86 games for Triple-A Omaha last year. Royals released him at end of spring training last month.”
Tigers Aiming to Get Back on Track After Slow Start to 2026 Season
GettyPHOENIX, ARIZONA – MARCH 31: Manager A.J. Hinch #14 of the Detroit Tigers watches from the dugout during the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 31, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Gentry will likely have to prove himself at Triple-A before returning to the majors, but he isn’t too far removed from hitting .251 with 16 home runs at that level, which he did back in 2024. A change of scenery could be just what Gentry needed, and who knows, maybe this move will unlock the potential he has been unable to tap into so far in his career.
In the immediate future, the Tigers need to find a way to start winning baseball games on a more consistent basis. The good news is that they have already won the first two games of their ongoing series against the Miami Marlins, but that isn’t enough. Detroit will aim to complete the sweep when it returns to action on Sunday afternoon at 1:40 p.m. ET.
Tigers Sign Former Royals 3rd Round Draft Pick for Outfield Help