Detroit Tigers Sign Former Royals Prospect

April 13, 2026 ,
Kansas City Royals outfielder Tyler Gentry tracks a flyball during 2025 game.

The Detroit Tigers signed outfielder Tyler Gentry to a minor league contract, assigning him to Triple-A Toledo.

Gentry, 26, was released by the Kansas City Royals at the end of spring training, ending a six-year run with the only organization he'd ever known. 

Kansas City drafted him in the third round of the 2020 draft out of Alabama (76th overall), and he climbed steadily through the system before his stock took a sharp dip. 

His 2025 season at Triple-A Omaha was a rough one: .206/.284/.371 in 332 plate appearances, a substantial drop from the much more encouraging numbers he'd posted in 2023 and 2024 at that level. 

His only big league taste came in August 2024, where he got into three games, with five plate appearances and no hits. 

The Royals DFA'd him in July of last year, outrighted him after he cleared waivers, and cut him loose entirely this spring.

The Timing Is Interesting

Parker Meadows, Detroit's center fielder and one of the more important pieces of their outfield, was placed on the 10-day IL two days ago after a terrifying collision with Riley Greene in Minnesota. 

Meadows fractured the radius bone in his left forearm, suffered a concussion, and needed five stitches in his mouth after the two ran into each other on a Josh Bell fly ball in the eighth inning. 

Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed that additional testing is needed to determine whether surgery is required. With the Tigers sitting at 7-9 and already trying to solve a team-wide funk, losing Meadows, who had started the season well with a 94 OPS+ and three stolen bases in three tries, is a genuine blow.  

Detroit recalled Wenceel Perez in the immediate aftermath, but the Gentry signing restores a little depth to Toledo's ranks behind him. 

What Gentry Brings

He's not a reclamation story just yet, but more of a flier. 

His strong throwing arm has kept him in right field throughout his career, and when things were clicking in Triple-A, particularly his 2022 season, when he hit .326/.422/.542 with 21 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A, there was a legitimate prospect case. 

He hit .251 with 16 home runs at Triple-A as recently as 2024, so the 2025 numbers aren't necessarily the final word.

He has a minor league option remaining, which gives Detroit some extra flexibility if needed.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images 

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