The Detroit Tigers are officially finished with the first half of the 2025 MLB season. A.J. Hinch's club has been one of baseball's best performers through the campaign's first three months, sitting atop the MLB standings with a dominant 50-31 record through 81 games, making it interesting to see if the Tigers can maintain that momentum down the stretch.
As great as things are going in the Motor City, those who've recently left Detroit aren't experiencing similar success. Some former Tigers have struggled to find much to celebrate this season, including one pitcher who's failing with his new team.
Former Tigers RHP Mason Englert is Failing with Rays in 2025
Mason Englert is one ex-Tiger who likely wishes his 2025 season were unfolding differently. The Alpine, TX native was traded to the Rays in exchange for pitching prospect Drew Sommers in February, and it's clear the fresh start hasn't produced the intended results.
In 13 relief appearances (22 1/3 innings) with Tampa Bay so far, Englert has pitched to a disappointing 4.84 ERA and 1.388 WHIP. He owns a putrid 11.81 ERA in his last four outings alone, which played a role in his being optioned to Triple-A Durham twice since the beginning of May. It's clear that his spot in the Rays organization is far from concrete.
As Englert continues to struggle, the Tigers look smarter than ever for trading him when they did. The ex-2018 fourth-round pick had finished each of his first two seasons in Detroit with an ERA of at least 5.40, so there was already reason to believe his arm is far from trustworthy. His 2025 performance has only further solidified that fact.
The Rays are slated to visit Comerica Park for a three-game series beginning on July 7. That gives Englert less than two weeks to work his way back to the Majors to have a chance to face his former team, leaving time to tell if the struggling veteran reliever is up to the task.
In the meantime, the Tigers will continue operating as World Series contenders, likely making their former reliever wish he was never traded in the first place.