Detroit Tigers promote Alabama alum Dylan Smith promoted to big leagues

Former Alabama right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith has been promoted to the Major Leagues by the Detroit Tigers, the organization announced Friday afternoon. It’s the first career MLB call-up for Smith, who was selected from Triple-A Toledo and will wear No. 58.

Smith was called up after the Tigers placed right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 29, with a grade one right flexor strain, the team announced in a corresponding move.

Smith was drafted out of Alabama in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft after leading the Crimson Tide in both innings pitched (98.1) and strikeouts (113) as a junior during the 2021 season. He finished tied for eighth in the SEC and 30th nationally in strikeouts while also ranking sixth in the SEC for innings pitched in 2021.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander went 2-8 with a 3.84 ERA across 16 starts as a junior after limited work his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Smith made just 14 total appearances between 2019-20, but was effective while striking out 12 in 16.2 innings of work as a freshman in 2019.

Smith went 1-1 with a 1.61 ERA, 32 strikeouts in 22.1 innings across 14 combined games between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo so far in 2025, notching three saves, two holds in relief. Across four seasons in the minors, Smith has a combined 10-14 record and 3.99 ERA, including 45 starts in Single-A action, while throwing 218 strikeouts in 205.1 innings pitched.