Tigers set for John Peck call-up, a defensive shortstop option from Triple-A Toledo

The Detroit Tigers are preparing to bring in infield prospect John Peck from Triple-A Toledo, with the expected move centered on Peck’s ability to play defense as a versatile shortstop option. Baseball America’s Emily Waldon, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors, says the Tigers will select Peck’s contract, which would put him on the major league roster pending the necessary transaction steps.

A contract selection is not simply a paperwork formality. Because major league rosters are capped, Detroit would have to make corresponding moves on both its 26-man active roster and its 40-man roster in order to add Peck, the reporting indicates. In practice, that means the Tigers will need space at the roster-decision level even if the plan is to use Peck for depth, matchups, or a longer look later in the season.

Peck, 24, enters the major-league conversation as a defensive shortstop prospect. That defensive reputation is a key part of why a call-up can happen even without a bat that has dominated at every level. Organizations often prioritize fielding value in the mid-to-late season, when roster constraints tighten and managers look for reliable infield range, quick exchanges, and the ability to hold down critical defensive responsibilities.

The Tigers originally drafted Peck in the seventh round out of Pepperdine in 2023. That draft background helps frame the organization’s developmental timeline: drafted relatively recently, but now at an age where a team can decide whether to test a prospect against major league competition, particularly when the player profiles as a defensive stabilizer.

Toledo, the affiliate named in the report, serves as the Tigers’ most immediate proving ground. Peck’s selection suggests Detroit believes he has progressed enough to warrant a major-league roster spot, at least as an option for in-game use. Defensive versatility can translate quickly because it impacts innings immediately, whereas other development areas often take longer to evaluate under major-league pitching and game speed.

While the reporting lays out the roster mechanics and the prospect’s defensive profile, it does not, in the available details, specify how the Tigers expect to use Peck once he is selected, or which roster moves would accompany the selection. Those items are typically resolved closer to the effective date of a contract move, and they can vary based on who the club intends to keep active and who it can option or designate to make room.

What to watch next is straightforward. First, whether Detroit completes the required 26-man and 40-man transactions to formally select Peck’s contract. Second, how quickly the Tigers integrate him into game situations, and whether they view him primarily as a defensive replacement, a late-inning option, or an everyday candidate for a stretch. For Peck, the selection is a milestone, but the real test will be translating his defense under major league pressure and at the pace of a full regular-season schedule.