PITTSBURGH -- The Tigers’ vaunted pitching pipeline is about to produce another big arm for the Major League rotation. Troy Melton, the hard-throwing right-hander who has vaulted up Detroit’s system with a breakout summer, will be called up from Triple-A Toledo to start Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against the Pirates at PNC Park.
It’ll be the Major League debut for Melton, who was the Tigers’ fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of San Diego State. He is ranked as the club’s No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
The Tigers left Wednesday’s slot open with the idea of giving their current rotation an extra day of rest in the middle of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days out of the All-Star break. But the start also gives Detroit a chance to work in Melton and give him a look at big league hitters in a somewhat lower-pressure setting before the stretch run and playoff push.
Melton has pitched in just eight games for the Mud Hens since his promotion from Double-A Erie last month, but his brief stint has been impressive -- 2.72 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. Melton has tossed 17 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings over his last four outings, including four innings and eight strikeouts on Friday in a piggyback start with rehabbing Tiger Sawyer Gipson-Long.
Add in Melton’s season-opening stint in Erie, his second season with the SeaWolves, and the 24-year-old has fanned 101 batters over 75 1/3 innings with a 2.99 ERA.
Melton’s most recent outing put his full arsenal on display. His fastball averaged 97 mph, according to Statcast, and topped out at 99. Melton’s cutter averaged 90.2 mph, complementing the heater, and generated as many whiffs (four) as the fastball. Mix in a slider, curveball and changeup, and Melton has a full repertoire to throw at hitters. Whether Wednesday ends up being a spot start or a longer audition remains to be seen.