Ty Madden

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #26 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
  
  Adjusted Grade: 30
  
  Track Record: A durable and successful starter at Texas, Madden has toyed with his release point and pitch mix to try to figure out the best way to work around a relatively dead-zone fastball. He had some success in Detroit as a bulk reliever in 2024, but his 2025 season was a washout as he rehabbed from a shoulder injury.
  
  Scouting Report: The Tigers like to help their pitchers develop varied arsenals. That’s been the path for Madden, who throws five fringe-average pitches. His fastball touches 97-98 mph at its best, but it’s never played to that velocity, and he doesn’t carry that velo through his starts. At 92-94, his fastball is quite hittable. His fringe-average curve, slider, changeup and cutter are all adequate, but none of the four is a bat-misser unless Madden stays a step ahead in the rock-paper-scissors game that is the batter-pitcher battle. Madden is around the zone, but his command isn’t sharp enough to always hit his spots in the zone.
  
  The Future: The Tigers announced in November that Madden was medically cleared for a normal offseason. He is expected to be at full speed for spring training, when he will compete for a job in the Tigers’ rotation or bullpen. Unless his stuff picks up, he fits best as a multi-inning reliever or spot-starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #18 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: A three-year starter at Texas, Madden was the Longhorns’ ace in 2021 as he finished among Division I leaders in innings, ERA and fewest hits allowed while going 7-5, 2.45 in 114 innings. Madden raised his release point early in his Tigers career to try to get better life on his fastball, but after getting rocked regularly at Toledo early in 2024, he went back to the three-quarters delivery he’d used earlier in his career. He continued to struggle, but showed improvement, and his best work came after he was promoted to the majors in August, where he was strategically spotted to work as a bulk-innings reliever.
  
  Scouting Report: Madden has long proven his durability, but his efforts to find a plus pitch have yet to bear fruit. His entire mix is fringy and includes a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter, split-change and newly-added cutter. None of the pitches are bad, but none is one he can consistently get outs with in key counts. If Madden is going to be more than an up-and-down starter/bulk innings reliever he has to improve his command. While he can throw strikes, he too often catches too much of the zone or misses the zone with his fastball when he’s in the 92-94 mph range.
  
  The Future: Madden has had some success in the majors, but also hasn’t proven he’s mastered Triple-A. He will compete for a spot in Detroit in 2025, but with the team’s starting pitching depth, he likely will get more time in Toledo to try to improve his command.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #5 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: Madden was a reliable college ace for Texas who showed he could maintain his stuff deep into starts. But concerns about how his relatively straight, over-the-top fastball would play in pro ball meant he slid to the 32nd pick in 2021, when the Tigers pounced. Madden lowered his release point in 2022 to help his fastball play better, and it has proven to be effective up in the zone. In 2023, Madden helped lead Double-A Erie to its first Eastern League title. He allowed one run in his final three regular-season starts and won his only postseason start.
  
  Scouting Report: Madden continues to show that he can carry 97-98 mph through his starts. He tweaked his shoulder tilt later in the 2023 season to improve his direction to the plate, which paid off in better consistency and stuff. His plus fastball is an effective weapon, especially now that he’s improved his plus slider as well. Madden’s college slider was purely a chase pitch, but he has tightened it, and it’s now an 85-87 mph weapon that he can consistently locate in the zone. He mixes in an improved changeup that grades as average and will spot a fringe-average cutter he’s developed as a pro. Madden will flip a slow, below-average curveball to lefthanded hitters as well, but the development of his cutter has made that pitch less vital. Madden has generally been a consistent strike-thrower with a clean delivery, but his walk rate climbed in 2023. He should get to average control.
  
  The Future: Madden’s combination of velocity, durability and adaptability has him on the path to a spot in the middle of the Tigers’ rotation. Including the postseason, he threw 128 innings in 2023 and won’t need much ramping up to handle an MLB workload. He’ll head to Triple-A Toledo in 2024, one phone call away from Detroit when a need arises.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Madden spent three years in the Texas rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year honors in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers drafted that year, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring. Madden made his pro debut in 2022 and excelled after tweaking his mechanics. In 122.2 innings between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie, Madden posted a 3.01 ERA and struck out 133 batters.
  
  Scouting Report: As an amateur, Madden received criticism for his fastball shape that prevented the pitch from playing well up in the zone. In the offseason, Madden reworked his delivery to adopt a lower arm slot and release point--going from over the top to more of a three-quarters delivery. The change has helped Madden improve the spin efficiency and movement of his fastball. Now he is throwing the pitch with similar power--he sits 93-94 mph and touches 99--but with nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break. Using the pitch to attack at the top of the strike zone is now more of an option. The slider remains Madden's go-to swing-and-miss offering and generated a 45% whiff rate with mid-80s velocity, 2,400-2,500 rpm spin and occasional biting two-plane break down and away from righthanded hitters. Madden is still developing feel for his mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he needs to throw for strikes more frequently. He will also mix in a curveball with more top-down shape, and a newer cutter in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Madden made impressive adjustments in his first year in pro ball, and the results speak for themselves. He has No. 3 or 4 starter upside.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Cutter: 50. Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: A 34th-round pick of the Royals out of high school, Madden spent three years in Texas’ starting rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers selected in the draft, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers excitedly scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million bonus. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring.
  
  Scouting Report: Madden combines top-end velocity with above-average control and is more consistent than most pitchers his age. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99 mph and is extremely effective when he pitches down in the zone with it. He complements his heater with a plus slider in the mid-80s that draws swings and misses and rounds out his arsenal with a developing curveball with solid depth and changeup with late fade, both of which project to be average pitches. Madden gets hit when he pitches up in the zone, so keeping the ball down is paramount to his success. He throws plenty of strikes and is a confident, poised presence on the mound.
  
  The Future: Madden’s struggles pitching up in the zone raise questions, but his arsenal and demeanor are more than enough for him to be a solid back-end starter. He is set to make his pro debut in 2022 and could rise up the system quickly.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #12 prospect in 2021 draft
  In Madden’s senior season at Houston’s Cypress Ranch High, he was the ace of a team that also included junior righthanders J.J. Goss (a 2019 supplemental first-round pick of the Rays) and Matthew Thompson (a 2019 second-round pick of the White Sox). Outfielder Colton Cowser, another likely 2021 first-round pick, roamed the outfield and catcher Jared Alvarez-Lopez was a 2019 17th-round pick. Madden ranked No. 238 on Baseball America’s Top 500 draft prospects coming out of high school. The Royals selected him in the 34th round in 2018, but he headed to Texas instead, where he stepped into the weekend rotation by the end of his freshman season. Madden sat 90-93 mph in his first two seasons at Texas, but this year he’s proven to be one of the hardest throwing starters in college baseball, sitting 94-96 mph and regularly getting to 99. He also proved to be one of the most consistent Friday night starters in the country, combining that top-end velocity with above-average control. Madden’s plus fastball doesn’t have elite movement to go with that velocity, which may limit which teams are most enamored with him. His heater is much more effective down in the zone than up—hitters hit .333/.350/.846 on his fastball when he spotted it in the upper third of the strike zone, but only .179/.179/.282 in the bottom third. His fastball does pair well with his slider (which earns 60 grades as well and will flash plus-plus). His mid-80s slider has solid downward break with adequate power and depth. Madden largely shelved his fringe-average 86-89 mph changeup in 2021, but it’s been promising in the past. Madden works up and down. He largely works in on lefties and down and away from righthanded hitters. Some evaluators fear he’ll end up as a two-pitch power reliever, but his durable frame (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), long track record of success and above-average control give him a solid path to being a durable mid-rotation starter. He should be the first player from Texas selected in the first-round since Taylor Jungman in 2011.
• Ranked #240 prospect in 2018 draft
  A year ago, Madden, a Texas signee, was a 6-foot-4 flagpole. He's gained nearly 40 pounds since then as his frame has caught up to his growth spurt. He already can touch 96 mph and will sit 90-94 with a plus fastball and he throws a slider that is easily plus at its best. But right now he can't maintain either pitch or his control consistently over the length of an outing. That inconsistency may ensure he gets to Texas, but if he continues to add strength, he could climb a number of spots on this list in a few years.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Madden spent three years in the Texas rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year honors in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers drafted that year, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring. Madden made his pro debut in 2022 and excelled after tweaking his mechanics. In 122.2 innings between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie, Madden posted a 3.01 ERA and struck out 133 batters.
  
  Scouting Report: As an amateur, Madden received criticism for his fastball shape that prevented the pitch from playing well up in the zone. In the offseason, Madden reworked his delivery to adopt a lower arm slot and release point--going from over the top to more of a three-quarters delivery. The change has helped Madden improve the spin efficiency and movement of his fastball. Now he is throwing the pitch with similar power--he sits 93-94 mph and touches 99--but with nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break. Using the pitch to attack at the top of the strike zone is now more of an option. The slider remains Madden's go-to swing-and-miss offering and generated a 45% whiff rate with mid-80s velocity, 2,400-2,500 rpm spin and occasional biting two-plane break down and away from righthanded hitters. Madden is still developing feel for his mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he needs to throw for strikes more frequently. He will also mix in a curveball with more top-down shape, and a newer cutter in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Madden made impressive adjustments in his first year in pro ball, and the results speak for themselves. He has No. 3 or 4 starter upside.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Cutter: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Madden spent three years in the Texas rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year honors in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers drafted that year, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring. Madden made his pro debut in 2022 and excelled after tweaking his mechanics. In 122.2 innings between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie, Madden posted a 3.01 ERA and struck out 133 batters.
  
  Scouting Report: As an amateur, Madden received criticism for his fastball shape that prevented the pitch from playing well up in the zone. In the offseason, Madden reworked his delivery to adopt a lower arm slot and release point--going from over the top to more of a three-quarters delivery. The change has helped Madden improve the spin efficiency and movement of his fastball. Now he is throwing the pitch with similar power--he sits 93-94 mph and touches 99--but with nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break. Using the pitch to attack at the top of the strike zone is now more of an option. The slider remains Madden's go-to swing-and-miss offering and generated a 45% whiff rate with mid-80s velocity, 2,400-2,500 rpm spin and occasional biting two-plane break down and away from righthanded hitters. Madden is still developing feel for his mid-to-upper-80s changeup that he needs to throw for strikes more frequently. He will also mix in a curveball with more top-down shape, and a newer cutter in the high 80s.
  
  The Future: Madden made impressive adjustments in his first year in pro ball, and the results speak for themselves. He has No. 3 or 4 starter upside.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Cutter: 50. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: A 34th-round pick of the Royals out of high school, Madden spent three years in Texas&#39 starting rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers selected in the draft, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers excitedly scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million bonus. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring.
  
  Scouting Report: Madden combines top-end velocity with above-average control and is more consistent than most pitchers his age. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99 mph and is extremely effective when he pitches down in the zone with it. He complements his heater with a plus slider in the mid-80s that draws swings and misses and rounds out his arsenal with a developing curveball with solid depth and changeup with late fade, both of which project to be average pitches. Madden gets hit when he pitches up in the zone, so keeping the ball down is paramount to his success. He throws plenty of strikes and is a confident, poised presence on the mound.
  
  The Future: Madden&#39s struggles pitching up in the zone raise questions, but his arsenal and demeanor are more than enough for him to be a solid back-end starter. He is set to make his pro debut in 2022 and could rise up the system quickly.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 55
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: A 34th-round pick of the Royals out of high school, Madden spent three years in Texas’ starting rotation and won Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year in 2021. Expected to be one of the top pitchers selected in the draft, he instead slid to the supplemental first round, where the Tigers excitedly scooped him up with the 32nd overall pick and signed him for an above-slot $2.5 million bonus. The Tigers opted not to send him to an affiliate after he pitched 113.2 innings for the Longhorns in the spring.
  
  Scouting Report: Madden combines top-end velocity with above-average control and is more consistent than most pitchers his age. His fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99 mph and is extremely effective when he pitches down in the zone with it. He complements his heater with a plus slider in the mid-80s that draws swings and misses and rounds out his arsenal with a developing curveball with solid depth and changeup with late fade, both of which project to be average pitches. Madden gets hit when he pitches up in the zone, so keeping the ball down is paramount to his success. He throws plenty of strikes and is a confident, poised presence on the mound.
  
  The Future: Madden’s struggles pitching up in the zone raise questions, but his arsenal and demeanor are more than enough for him to be a solid back-end starter. He is set to make his pro debut in 2022 and could rise up the system quickly.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  The Tigers doubled down on pitching for their first two selections of the 2021 draft, taking Madden after he fell to No. 32. With that selection, Detroit had collected two of the top 12 players available in the draft, per Baseball America's rankings. Madden's fastball sits comfortably at 94-96 mph, and the 6-foot-3, 215-pound righthander also works with a potentially plus slider and above-average curveball and changeup. Concerns about Madden's pitch data set off a brief slide down the board.