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Andrew Sears, LHP, gets call-up from Detroit Tigers for Sunday debut
The Detroit Tigers have called up left-handed pitching prospect Andrew Sears from Triple-A Toledo, and he is expected to make his major-league debut Sunday as a bulk reliever in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals. Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed the move, noting the team's rotation shuffle to give Keider Montero extra rest. Sears, 23, has posted a 2.57 ERA at Double-A Erie and struck out 14 over 9⅔ scoreless innings in two starts at Toledo.
Tigers call up left-hander Andrew Sears for Sunday debut against Royals
The Detroit Tigers have selected the contract of left-handed pitching prospect Andrew Sears from Triple-A Toledo, and he is expected to make his major-league debut Sunday as a bulk reliever in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals.
Sears, 23, was in the Tigers' clubhouse Saturday for an acclimation day, though he was not permitted to talk to the media, as reported by the Hartford Courant and Detroit Free Press. Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed the move Saturday, saying, "He will be activated [Sunday]. He's not going to start, but he will certainly make his major-league debut at some point, for some period of time."
Hinch added, "He's got real weapons. This challenge, while a pretty big leap, given he's only had a couple games in Triple-A, he's demonstrated the ability to compete against anybody."
The Tigers are shuffling the rotation to give right-hander Keider Montero extra rest, prompting the need for a bullpen game Sunday, according to multiple reports. Jacob Waguespack will open, with Sears expected to follow for the bulk of the innings, as announced by the team Sunday morning, per Heavy.
Sears, a 6-foot-3 left-hander from West Warwick, R.I., attended Rhode Island College for two years before transferring to UConn. He was drafted by the Tigers in the 10th round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Since being promoted from Double-A Erie on Aug. 9, Sears has struck out 14 over 9⅔ scoreless innings in two starts at Triple-A Toledo, per M Live Michigan. He posted a 2.57 ERA at Double-A Erie before his promotion.
Sears' 2026 season was delayed until May 15 due to a broken bone in his elbow, according to the Hartford Courant. He is nicknamed "Psycho" for his intense mound presence, as noted by the Hartford Courant and Detroit Free Press.
MLB Pipeline ranks Sears as the Tigers' No. 14 prospect, describing him as throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot with a fastball that sits around 93-94 mph and can reach 97, along with a mid-80s sweeper and a split-change.
The Tigers, who have lost four straight and eight of their last 10 games, are trying to halt the skid and keep their playoff hopes alive, as reported by Heavy. They are in fourth place in the AL Central with a 61-67 record, six games back of the Chicago White Sox for the division lead, and 2.5 games back of the final Wild Card berth, according to Heavy.
In corresponding roster moves, outfielder James Outman was reinstated from the injured list and then designated for assignment, and left-handed reliever Enmanuel De Jesus was optioned to Toledo, per M Live Michigan.
Outman, who was claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in June, was hitting .183 with a .606 OPS in 100 plate appearances for the Tigers. He was placed on the concussion injured list after being hit in the face by a pitch on Aug. 12, and played one rehab game before being DFA'd.
Sears is expected to turn 24 on Aug. 30, according to Heavy and Detroit Free Press. When he debuts, he will be the sixth former UConn player to appear in a major-league game in 2026, a first for the program, joining George Springer, Kyler Fedko, PJ Poulin, Anthony Kay, and Ben Casparius, as reported by the Hartford Courant.
The Tigers traded ace lefty Tarik Skubal on Aug. 1, per the Hartford Courant. The team's upcoming schedule includes series against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who now feature Skubal, according to Heavy.
How each outlet told it
Hartford Courant
Framing: Headline emphasizes Sears' UConn connection and the milestone of six former Huskies in MLB, rather than the Tigers' context. — Celebratory and prideful: 'potentially dominant stuff', 'a first for the program'.
Facts Included:
Andrew Sears, left-hander from UConn, called up to majors by Tigers on Saturday
Quotes from manager A.J. Hinch: 'He will be activated [Sunday]', 'He's not going to start, but he will certainly make his major-league debut at some point'
Sears pitched one season for UConn, going 3-1 with 6.24 ERA in 14 starts, struck out 74 in 62 innings, with 95 MPH fastball and deceptive sidearm delivery
Sears drafted by Tigers in 10th round in 2023
Sears has posted 17-12 record and 2.83 ERA in 61 minor-league games
This season, pitched to 2.57 ERA at Double-A Erie, then two appearances at Triple-A Toledo, striking out 14 in 9 2/3 innings
Tigers traded ace lefty Tarik Skubel away on Aug. 1
Teammates call Sears 'psycho' for intensity on mound
Sears is Rhode Island native, pitched two seasons for Rhode Island College before transferring to UConn
If Sears pitches Sunday, likely as 'bulk' reliever after opener
When he debuts, Sears will be sixth former Husky to appear in MLB game in 2026, a first for program, joining George Springer, Kyler Fedko, PJ Poulin, Anthony Kay, Ben Casparius
Framing: Headline emphasizes the call-up and debut, focusing on Sears as a player. Does not mention the corresponding roster moves or the team's context. — Positive and promotional: 'excited to promote him', 'his best is good enough'.
Facts Included:
Tigers will call up left-hander Andrew Sears to pitch against the Royals on Sunday, Aug. 23
Sears was in the Tigers clubhouse on Saturday for an acclimation day, not permitted to talk to media
Quotes from manager A.J. Hinch: 'He will be activated [Sunday]', 'He's not going to start, but he will certainly make his major-league debut'
Sears was recently promoted to Triple-A Toledo, pitched two games for Mud Hens with 14 strikeouts and 4 walks in 9⅔ innings
Hinch quoted: 'He's got real weapons...'
Tigers are shuffling rotation to give Keider Montero extra rest, prompting need for Sunday's bullpen game
Sears drafted out of UConn in 10th round of 2023 MLB Draft
Sears delayed 2026 season until May 15 due to broken bone in elbow
Pitched in 65 games in minors with 292 strikeouts, 108 walks, 2.84 ERA over 260 innings
Sears is Tigers' No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline
MLB Pipeline description of Sears' pitching arsenal (low three-quarters arm angle, fastball 93-94 mph, sweeper, split change)
Framing: Headline emphasizes the decision on a 32-year-old pitcher (Waguespack) before the Royals finale, focusing on the roster move rather than Sears' debut. — Urgent and analytical: 'desperate to halt the skid', 'significant pitching decision'. Focuses on the team's playoff chase and Waguespack's long road back.
Facts Included:
Tigers lost second straight game to Royals Saturday, 3-1, fourth straight loss overall and eighth in last 10 games
Tigers announced Jacob Waguespack will open on Sunday, Andrew Sears follows for bulk innings, making MLB debut
Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Sears call-up a day earlier, Detroit rearranged rotation to give Keider Montero extra rest and push Framber Valdez to Monday
Jacob Waguespack is 32-year-old right-hander from Prairieville, Louisiana, 6-foot-6, pitched at Ole Miss, drafted by Pittsburgh in 37th round in 2012 but didn't sign, signed with Philadelphia in 2015, debuted with Toronto in 2019, brief stop with Tampa Bay in 2024, compiled 6-6 career record
Waguespack pitched two seasons for Orix Buffaloes in Japan, part of 2022 Japan Series championship roster with Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Tigers acquired Waguespack from Brewers on June 10 for player to be named later or cash, after 1.66 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings at Triple-A
Sears turns 24 on Aug. 30, nicknamed 'Psycho', attended Rhode Island College then transferred to UConn, drafted in 10th round, 290th overall in 2023
Sears is first pitching prospect from current front office to reach majors
Sears had left elbow bone spur delaying 2026 season until mid-May, posted 2.57 ERA at Double-A Erie, then 9 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A Toledo
MLB Pipeline ranks Sears No. 14 prospect in Detroit's system, preseason Bless You Boys had him 11th, projecting swingman or depth starter with low three-quarters slot, fastball 93-94 mph touching 97, mid-80s sweeping slider
Quote from Hinch: 'He pitches with some intensity, he's got real weapons'
Framing: Headline emphasizes the Tigers' struggles and the prospect's physical attributes ('intriguing 6'3" prospect'), focusing on the call-up as a potential spark. — Concerned and hopeful: 'did not get off to the start that they needed', 'badly-needed energy'.
Facts Included:
Tigers lost 5-2 to Royals Friday, slipping to 61-67 through first 128 games
Tigers are hoping latest roster move provides jolt of energy
Tigers called up LHP Andrew Sears, expected to make MLB debut Sunday as part of bullpen game in series finale
Beat writer Chris McCosky reported Sears is here for acclimation day, expected to be activated and debut Sunday as bulk reliever
Sears threw five no-hit innings against Iowa Cubs with seven strikeouts in most recent start with Triple-A Toledo on August 18
Sears has seen time with West Michigan Whitecaps and Erie SeaWolves
Sears is Rhode Island native, began college at Rhode Island College before transferring to UConn, selected by Tigers in 2023 MLB Draft
Sears broke out in 2024 with Low-A Lakeland, posting 2.51 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 89.2 innings
After rough start to 2025 at High-A West Michigan, Sears made adjustments, surrendering only seven earned runs across next 40-plus innings
As of August 22, Tigers are in fourth place in AL Central with 61-67 record, six games back of Chicago White Sox for division lead
Tigers are 2.5 games back of final Wild Card playoff berth
Tigers have two more games in series before facing Rays and Dodgers (who feature ex-Tigers ace Tarik Skubal)
Framing: Headline emphasizes both the promotion of Sears and the cutting of a veteran outfielder, highlighting the roster transaction aspect. — Neutral and factual: 'impressive two weeks', 'struggled mightily at the plate'.
Facts Included:
Tigers selected contract of rookie left-hander Andrew Sears from Triple-A Toledo before Sunday's series finale at Kansas City
Sears expected to pitch multiple innings behind opener Jacob Waguespack
Corresponding moves: Outfielder James Outman was reinstated from injured list and designated for assignment, left-handed reliever Enmanuel De Jesus was optioned to Toledo
Sears turns 24 next week
Since being promoted from Double-A Erie on Aug. 9, he's struck out 14 over 9 2/3 scoreless innings over two starts
Sears is 6-foot-3 left-hander from West Warwick, R.I., pitched two seasons at Division III Rhode Island College before transferring to UConn, selected in 10th round of 2023 draft
Sears throws from low three-quarters arm slot with fastball 93-94 mph reaching 97, mid-80s sweeper and split-change, per MLB Pipeline, ranks 14th-best prospect
Outman was placed on concussion injured list 10 days ago after being hit in face by pitch on Aug. 12
Outman played one rehab game for Toledo before being reinstated and DFA'd, has never been previously outrighted, if clears waivers Tigers could send him to Toledo
Outman was hitting .183 with .606 OPS (66 OPS+) in 100 plate appearances since claimed off waivers from Twins in June
Outman was in line for more playing time after Riley Greene went on injured list Wednesday with hamstring injury, instead turned to rookie Brett Callahan
Outman drafted by Dodgers in seventh round in 2018, had rookie year in 2023 with .790 OPS (114 OPS+), 23 home runs, 16 stolen bases in 567 plate appearances
Outman sent to Twins for reliever Brock Stewart at last year's trade deadline
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThe Detroit Tigers will call up left-hander Andrew Sears to pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.
ClaimMLB Pipeline describes Sears as having a low three-quarters arm angle, a fastball that sits around 93-94 mph and can play up to 97, a mid-80s sweeper, and a split change.
ClaimAfter a rough start to 2025 at High-A West Michigan, Sears made adjustments and surrendered only seven earned runs across his next 40-plus innings.
ClaimAs of August 22, the Tigers are in fourth place in the AL Central with a 61-67 record, six games back of the Chicago White Sox for the division lead.
ClaimThe Tigers have two more games in their series against the Royals before facing the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who now feature ex-Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
ClaimIn corresponding moves, outfielder James Outman was reinstated from the injured list and designated for assignment, and left-handed reliever Enmanuel De Jesus was optioned to Toledo.
ClaimOutman has never been previously outrighted in his career, so if he clears waivers, the Tigers could keep him in the organization and send him to Toledo.
ClaimOutman was hitting .183 with a .606 OPS (66 OPS+) in 100 plate appearances since the Tigers claimed him off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in June.
ClaimOutman was in line for more playing time after Riley Greene went on the injured list Wednesday with a hamstring injury, but the Tigers turned to rookie Brett Callahan.
ClaimWhen Sears debuts, he will be the sixth former Husky to appear in a major-league game in 2026, a first for the program, joining George Springer, Kyler Fedko, PJ Poulin, Anthony Kay, and Ben Casparius.