The Tigers weren’t going to enter these next few series, two with left-handed heavy Kansas City and one with the Athletics, with only one left-handed reliever.

Sommers wasn’t a particularly notable draft pick. The Rays selected him in the 11th round back in 2022 out of Central Arizona College. The six-foot-three, 250 pound JUCO standout received the minimum signing bonus, but from the start was punching out hitters and racking up ground balls at good clips in the A-ball ranks in 2023 and 2024.

Detroit Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle owns a 5.10 ERA over 47⅔ innings in 50 games during the 2025 season, including 22 runs in his last 14⅓ innings.