The Tigers are selecting the contract of outfielder Brett Callahan from Triple-A Toledo, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Callahan is in the starting lineup today and will be making his major league debut. In a corresponding move, outfielder Trei Cruz has been designated for assignment.
Callahan, 24, was the Tigers’ 13th-round draft pick in 2023. He reached the upper minors this year and batted .268/.374/.504 and a 133 wRC+ in 265 plate appearances at Double-A. He showed impressive knowledge of the strike zone, walking at a 12.8% clip while striking out 20.8% of the time. Callahan regressed somewhat upon reaching Triple-A Toledo, mostly due to a drop in power, but he continued to make contact and get on base at decent rates.
Callahan missed some time due to injury in the 2024-25 seasons. He dislocated his finger and suffered a right lower leg hematoma in 2024, then pulled his quad in 2025, missing a combined four months of action in those two years. He’s clearly fully healthy in 2026, playing a career-high 96 games and hitting 18% better than average by wRC+ across the top two levels of the Tigers’ system.
MLB Pipeline rates Callahan as the No. 19 prospect in Detroit’s system. His speed is noted as one of his best tools, and Callahan has shown it off by stealing 29 bases this year. Defensively, he’s slotted in at all three outfield spots and should be a capable defender thanks to his plus arm and range.
Callahan isn’t as notable of a prospect as fellow outfielder Max Clark, who came up a couple of weeks ago. Nonetheless, it’s a notable move for Callahan, who would have been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter but will now be protected. With Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, and James Outman all on the injured list, Callahan should get a chance to establish himself at the big league level in the last month and a half of the season. He could presumably stick in a backup role when one of Carpenter or Outman returns at the end of the month.
More to come.
