Detroit, MI
Detroit Tigers option Keider Montero. What does that mean for Reese Olson’s status?
Who should represent Detroit Tigers in MLB All-Star game?
The “Days of Roar” podcast debates which players from the Detroit Tigers should make an appearance in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, set for July 15.
TAMPA, FL — The Detroit Tigers optioned right-hander Keider Montero to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, June 20, following his start Thursday, June 19, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Does that mean Reese Olson is coming back?
Not so fast.
“It’s unrelated to Reese,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “Our expectation is that he’s going to need another rehab start to continue to move forward.”
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Olson — the No. 3 starter in the Tigers’ rotation — has been sidelined for more than a month with right ring finger inflammation. The 25-year-old right-hander completed the second start of his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Toledo, throwing 58 pitches.
He threw 48 pitches in his first start.
Aside from the increased pitch count, Olson advanced from throwing zero changeups in his first start to seven changeups in his second start. His finger injury forced him to stop throwing his changeup, so incorporating it into games is a big step forward.
Olson typically throws 25% changeups.
He threw 12% changeups in Thursday’s start.
“He feels really good,” Hinch said of Olson, who completed 3⅔ scoreless innings with zero walks and five strikeouts. “If he continues to take these steps, then we can start talking about when he can get back to helping us.”
Dylan Smith recalled
Replacing Montero, the Tigers recalled right-handed reliever Dylan Smith from Triple-A Toledo. The 25-year-old pitched two games for the Tigers in early June, then returned as the 27th player for Thursday’s doubleheader against the Pirates.
Smith recorded his first MLB strikeout in Game 1 — exactly 17 days after his MLB debut. He then traveled with the Tigers to Tampa on Thursday night.
“I was kind of anxious about it,” said Smith, who struck out Billy Cook swinging with a down-and-away sweeper. “I was antsy. I really wanted to get it out of the way. Now that I got it out of the way, I can focus and do what I do.”
The Tigers have chosen to operate with nine relievers in the bullpen by recalling Smith and optioning Montero — leaving just four starters in the rotation.
Since May 16, the Tigers’ bullpen ranks 25th in MLB with a 4.63 ERA.
“The value is continuing to have guys available when other guys need a blow,” Hinch said. “We’re working through things with a couple of different guys at this point of the season where having the extra arm is a good thing for us.”
There are Monday off days coming up in each of the next two weeks, and since left-hander Tarik Skubal is scheduled to start Tuesday, June 24, against the Athletics, the Tigers could skip the fifth spot in the rotation — just for one turn — before Olson returns.
“We’ll look at all of our options,” Hinch said.
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Message to Keider Montero
Now a Mud Hen, Montero registered a 4.02 ERA with 20 walks and 39 strikeouts across 56 innings in 11 games (six starts) with the Tigers in the 2025 season. His 1.393 WHIP ranks 96th among 128 MLB pitchers with at least 50 innings.
He turns 25 in early July.
“He’s been a part of this since the beginning,” Hinch said. “It’s been a little bit of a back and forth for a large portion of the season. Right now, we really need the coverage in the bullpen, and we’ll deal with the rotation moving forward as it comes.”
Montero surrendered one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts across five innings in Game 2 of the doubleheader, which the Tigers lost, 8-4, in 10 innings.
He has allowed two or fewer runs in six games, four of which were starts.
“We fully expect him to be back,” Hinch said. “He’s got some things to work on, but he also can take a little bit of comfort knowing that he has all of our respect, all of our admiration. He’s a good pitcher. He’s going to be back in the rotation at some point.”
John Brebbia released
The Tigers released right-handed reliever John Brebbia.
The 35-year-old was designated for assignment Sunday, June 15, after posting a 7.71 ERA across 18⅔ innings in 19 games. Now, Brebbia is eligible to sign with any team.
In February 2025, the Tigers signed Brebbia to a one-year, $2.25 million contract with a $4 million club option for the 2026 season. The Tigers are on the hook for his salary this season.
The deal didn’t work out as planned.
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Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he announced Monday.
Caputo, a host on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket, last published a column on Nov. 7. On Monday, he explained the reason behind his absence.
“For those wondering where I’ve been: I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, commonly referred to as a “death sentence” and had two other serious ailments which put me in ICU for several days,” Caputo wrote in a post to X. “It was sudden. I’ve literally been on my back for weeks. Bless you all.”
Caputo, 66, became a well-known personality in Detroit sports media during his time as an award-winning columnist for The Oakland Press from 1983-2020, according to the Detroit Free Press. He also was previously part of WXYT’s “Evening Sports” broadcast, and is an official voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame and college football’s Heisman Trophy award, according to his X bio.
Caputo is nicknamed “The Book” for his impressive memory retaining sports stats and information, according to FOX 2 in Detroit, where he has been a regular guest on its “Sports Works” broadcast.
Caputo’s social media announcement regarding his health drew support from fellow sports media professionals, including Brad Galli, sports director at WXYZ Detroit, and ESPN’s Dan Wetzel and Dave Pasch.
“Pat, we’re praying for [you],” Galli wrote. “Awful awful awful to read this, man. God bless you.”
“Legend. Stay strong my friend. So much support out here for you,” Wetzel posted.
“Book, praying for you my friend. So sorry to hear this,” Pasch wrote.
DETROIT (WXYZ) — Desmond Burks’ murder trial starts this week. On Monday, he attended his pre-trial hearing. Burks faces first-degree murder, felony murder and larceny charges in the death of Dr. Devon Hoover.
The prominent Detroit neurosurgeon was found dead in his attic in April 2023 after Detroit police performed a wellness check. Investigators said he had been shot twice in the head and his body was wrapped in a blood-soaked carpet.
Watch Darren Cunningham’s video report below:
Trial set to begin in Dr. Devon Hoover murder case
At the pre-trial, Judge Paul Cusick set the tone for how he expects the trial to go. It could last several weeks, according to court administration.
“Obviously, there’s always been respect shown to this court by the defendant and attorneys in this case, and all of the witnesses need to show the respect that is going to be required. There will be no outburst from any witnesses or anyone else during the proceedings,” the judge said.
Cusick discussed scheduling for the trial, starting with jury selection Wednesday and outlined restrictions for news media.
“Media is prohibited from showing and/or publishing the faces of any civilian witnesses not employed by the government,” he read.
WXYZ
Those same restrictions were in place during the preliminary hearing.
At the prelim, a number of people testified that they were former lovers of Desmond Burks.
Those men and women described Burks as a hustler and said he would send them money from an unknown Cash App and then have them send the money back to his Cash App.
Watch our coverage of the third day of the preliminary hearing below:
Day 3 concludes in Desmond Burks’ preliminary hearing in murder of Dr. Devon Hoover
Burks is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from Hoover via credit card and fraudulent bank transactions, and Burks allegedly used other people to execute his plan.
Investigators said text messages revealed Burks had an intimate relationship with Hoover and was sometimes paid for sexual services.
Watch our coverage of the second day of the preliminary hearing below:
Mystery backpack focus of testimony during day 2 of Hoover preliminary hearing
Testimony from the prelim also revealed that authorities zeroed in on Burks, in part, through cellphone records and surveillance footage involving Hoover’s stolen truck.
During the trial, we may hear from a close relative of Burks who identified him in surveillance footage during the prelim. The footage allegedly shows Burks walking away from Hoover’s stolen vehicle.
Watch our coverage of the first day of the preliminary hearing below:
Preliminary hearing begins for man charged with killing Dr. Devon Hoover
The jury selection process is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
A situation believed to involve a barricaded suspect in Ypsilanti has resulted in evacuations for some neighbors and shelter-in-place orders for others as authorities attempt to bring an end to the standoff.
Police were seen inside the home Monday morning, but the suspect involved has not left the building.
Neighbors told CBS Detroit the circumstances began with a wellness check around noon Sunday. Since then, multiple law enforcement vehicles, including a SWAT team, have been in the area.
The street is closed to traffic in the meantime.
CBS News Detroit has a crew on scene. Additional details will be provided on air and online when they are available.
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