The Tigers’ top prospect is still swinging, into October.
Zyhir Hope, the slugging outfielder who was the centerpiece of the Tigers’ haul in the Tarik Skubal trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in early August, hit his first home run of the Arizona Fall League on Monday, Oct. 12.
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Hope homered in the first inning for the Scottsdale Scorpions, launching a two-run shot on a 95-mph from Dodgers right-handed prospect Brooks Auger. The ball left Hope’s bat at 101 mph, and was an opposite-field shot to left field.
Tigers prospect Zyhir Hope is greeted by teammates after a home run in the Arizona Fall League on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.
Through five games in the AFL, Hope, 21, has five RBIs and an .873 OPS. He has eight strikeouts but also five walks, good for a .444 on-base percentage.
Hope is the Tigers’ top-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, after Max Clark graduated to the major leagues late in the 2026 season. Hope finished his season with Double-A Erie, after being traded from the Dodgers to the Tigers along with pitching prospects Brady Smith and River Ryan for Skubal.
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Hope finished the 2026 season with 29 homers, 111 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He is one of eight Tigers’ minor-leaguers participating in the Arizona Fall League, along with their No. 2 prospect, shortstop Bryce Rainer.
Rainer had an RBI double in Monday’s game — which was suspended by weather with Scottsdale leading Glendale, with the teams tied at 6 — and has a .698 OPS through four games.
Scottsdale, which also features prospects from the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays, has started 5-1 in the AFL.
The Arizona Fall League began last weekend. It runs through early November.
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More: Tigers’ new No. 1-ranked prospect speaks softly, but hits hard
How are Tigers prospects faring in Arizona Fall League?
Stats through Monday, Oct. 12:
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OF Zyhir Hope, 11th-round pick by Chicago Cubs in 2023 (traded to Tigers by Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2026): .286/.444/.429, HR, 5 RBIs, 4 R, 5 BB, 8 SO
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IF Bryce Rainer, first-round pick (No. 11 overall) by Tigers in 2024: .231/.313/.385, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, SO
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IF John Peck, seventh-round pick by Tigers in 2023: .050/.130/.100, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
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RHP Logan Berrier, free agent signed by Tigers in 2025: 1 game, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 SO
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RHP Jalen Evans, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 1 game, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO
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RHP Preston Howey, 14th-round pick by Tigers in 2024: 2 games, 9.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 SO
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RHP Maddox Long, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 2 games, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 SO
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LHP Win Scott, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 1 game, 4.50 ERA, 2 IP, 2 H, BB, SO
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers’ Arizona Fall League update: Top prospect Zyhir Hope homers
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