The Tigers have signed right-handed pitcher Jordan Balazovic to a minor league contract, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. This marks Balazovic’s return to North American baseball after a brief stint with the Doosan Bears in the KBO League. He joined the Bears following his release from the Twins last July.
Drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round in 2016, Balazovic once appeared on the fringes of top-100 prospect lists as he rose through the Twins’ farm system. However, his success largely came at the lower levels, as he struggled in Triple-A with a career 6.35 ERA across 151 2/3 innings. Despite those challenges, the Twins gave him a shot in the majors in 2023, where he recorded a 4.44 ERA, a 15.7% strikeout rate, and an 11.1% walk rate over 24 1/3 innings.
The Twins designated Balazovic for assignment last February before re-signing him to a minor league deal. Continued struggles at Triple-A led to his release, which allowed him to pursue an opportunity in South Korea. With the Bears, Balazovic posted a 4.26 ERA and an impressive 27.6% strikeout rate in 57 innings, starting in 11 of his 12 appearances. However, his control remained an issue, as evidenced by an 11.2% walk rate, slightly above his career 9.01% walk rate in the minors.
At just 26 years old, Balazovic still has potential, making him an intriguing option for the Tigers as they evaluate depth arms during spring camp. His signing follows similar minor league deals for pitchers Matt Gage, Brendan White, and Ryan Miller. While these moves are standard for building organizational depth, Detroit may still pursue more prominent bullpen options, such as their reported interest in Kirby Yates.
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