Nick Raquet Signs Two-Year Minor League Contract with Detroit Tigers After Tommy John Surgery
Left-hander Nick Raquet has signed a two-year minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to MLB Trade Rumors reporting from Ari Alexander of 7 News. The agreement provides financial and roster security for the southpaw, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery. Raquet will miss the entire 2027 season while rehabilitating from the procedure, positioning the Tigers to utilize him once he recovers for the 2028 campaign.
Recovery Timeline and Rehabilitation Schedule for 2027
The unusual length of a two-year minor league pact directly reflects Raquet’s current health status following elbow reconstruction. Nick Raquet recently underwent Tommy John surgery, ensuring the left-hander misses all of 2027 rehabbing from the procedure. By inking the deal now, Raquet secures organizational support and medical infrastructure during a lengthy rehabilitation window.
Source: LHP Nick Raquet has agreed to terms on a 2-Year minor league deal with the #Tigers.Raquet, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, made his MLB debut in 2025 with the #Cardinals, and pitched 4 games for the #Orioles in 2026. pic.twitter.com/cQQBrrFlsY
Career Journey From the Nationals to the Major Leagues
Raquet entered professional baseball as a third-round selection by the Washington Nationals in the 2017 MLB Draft. When the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the minor league season in 2020, he stepped away from the sport entirely. During his absence from the game, Raquet returned to William & Mary to finish his business degree and worked as an enterprise risk consultant at Ernst & Young.
He resumed his playing career in independent ball during 2023 before securing a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2024 season. That stint culminated in his major league debut during September 2025, where he pitched two scoreless innings across two relief appearances for St. Louis.
Performance Shifts and Minor League Statistics
The Cardinals designated Raquet for assignment in April before trading him to the Baltimore Orioles. He struggled during brief major league action with Baltimore, yielding a 7.36 ERA across 3 2/3 innings over four appearances, and spent the majority of his time at Triple-A Norfolk before an elbow injury halted his season in August.
A permanent shift to the bullpen during the 2025 season unlocked improved strikeout metrics for the left-handed pitcher. Across 44 innings split between the top affiliates of the Cardinals and Orioles, Raquet posted a 3.68 ERA accompanied by a 26.9 percent strikeout rate and a 7.0 percent walk rate.
Rather than relying on a traditional four-seam fastball, Raquet rarely exceeds 90 miles per hour with his pitches. His pitching approach centers heavily on a sharp slider paired with a reliable sinker.
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