The Detroit Tigers released right-hander Nick Sandlin from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, according to the MiLB transaction log.

The sidearm reliever, a former second-round pick, had been with the Mud Hens since mid-May after signing a minor-league deal. The move ends a brief, low-profile stint that never produced a call-up to Detroit.

Sandlin, 29, was selected 67th overall by Cleveland in the 2018 draft out of Southern Mississippi, where he won Conference USA Pitcher of the Year honors.

He signed for a $750,000 bonus and reached the majors in 2021.

Over six MLB seasons with the Guardians, Blue Jays, and Angels, he posted a 19-11 record, 3.51 ERA, and 245 strikeouts in 220 1/3 innings. He was especially effective against both sides of the plate and built a reputation as a durable middle-relief option during four years in Cleveland.

His path grew bumpier after 2024. Traded to Toronto, he posted a 2.20 ERA in 16 1/3 innings in 2025 before elbow inflammation and a lat strain limited him.

He signed a minor-league deal with the Angels for 2026, earned a brief promotion, and struggled to an 11.42 ERA in 8 2/3 innings before being designated for assignment. Detroit signed him May 10 and assigned him to Toledo.

In Triple-A this season he worked as a reliever with mixed results, logging a mid-3.00s ERA across roughly 40 innings.

Command issues that surfaced in the majors persisted at times, and he never forced his way onto Detroit’s 40-man roster amid a season of bullpen shuffling.

The release is a quiet end to a once-promising career arc. Sandlin’s low arm slot, slider-heavy mix, and history of missing bats still give him a chance to latch on elsewhere as a veteran depth piece.

For the Tigers, it is another incremental roster adjustment as they evaluate pitching options down the stretch.

Sandlin is now a free agent. Whether another organization takes a flyer on the former high-upside arm will depend on how quickly he can recapture the command and stuff that once made him a reliable big-league reliever.