Right-hander Wilmer Flores and infielder Eddys Leonard were both Top 30 prospects in the Tigers' system earlier this year who might have joined the many other prospects to debut in Detroit in 2024 if not for injuries. Both were designated for assignment and became free agents last month to open spots on Detroit¡¯s 40-man roster. Both will be back in Tigers camp with a chance to compete for spots again.

The Tigers re-signed Flores and Leonard to Minor League contracts, according to the transactions page. Both will be back in big league camp for Spring Training as non-roster invites, restoring organizational depth in a couple of key areas.

Flores, the young brother of Giants infielder Wilmer Flores, was as high as the Tigers¡¯ No. 3 prospect in 2023, just behind Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung, and briefly cracked MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 100 list coming off a breakout season at Double-A Erie. It was a meteoric rise for a former undrafted free agent signing out of Arizona Western College, but injuries derailed what seemed at one point like a fast track to Detroit.

After an up-and-down 2023 season at Erie that included wavering velocity on his fastball, the 23-year-old Flores was one of the bright spots of Tigers Spring Training, showing a 99-plus mph fastball in a multi-inning relief role. The Tigers kept him in that role at Triple-A Toledo, a conversion from starting over his first three pro seasons, but he struggled to an 8.53 ERA in 16 appearances for Toledo in a season abbreviated by a right shoulder sprain. He had more walks (24) than strikeouts (23) over 25 1/3 innings for the Mud Hens.

Even through the struggles, Flores showed hints of his dominant self. He tossed two scoreless innings with one hit, a walk and three strikeouts on May 9 against St. Paul, and he had eight fastballs at 98-plus mph, topping out at 99.9 on April 25 against Worcester according to Statcast. But he topped out at 97.6 mph once he returned from his shoulder injury. If he can regain his old form and command, he should be in line for a call to Detroit¡¯s bullpen at some point next season.

Leonard, who turned 24 last month, bounced in and out of the Tigers¡¯ Top 30 prospect rankings since being acquired from the Dodgers in August 2023. But after a 19-homer, 30-double season across two levels in 2023, he made a strong impression in Spring Training, batting 11-for-33 with two homers and 11 RBIs. He would¡¯ve been in line for a call after Andy Ib¨¢?ez went on Detroit¡¯s injured list with a strained hamstring in early April. Alas, a left oblique strain not only scuttled that possibility, but cost Leonard nearly two months in what became an injury-riddled season.

Leonard batted .263/.326/.455 in 67 games for Toledo with 15 doubles, 10 homers and 26 RBIs. He played primarily at shortstop, second and third base, but also got a few games in the outfield. He¡¯s playing this winter for Aguilas in the Dominican League. With the Tigers in need of right-handed hitters and Javier B¨¢ez coming back from hip surgery, Leonard has a chance to make his case for a spot in Detroit¡¯s infield depth next season.