While many fans first heard Thayron Liranzo’s name at the trade deadline in 2024, when the Los Angeles Dodgers sent the 21-year-old to the Tigers along with Trey Sweeney for Jake Flaherty to bolster their rotation for their World Series run, Liranzo has been turning heads since first entering pro ball in 2021. While his final position in the field remains up in the air, Liranzo has shown off his raw power and patience at the plate throughout the minors, and really turned it on after arriving at High-A West Michigan following the trade.

Liranzo is a switch hitter and stands at 6’2”, 195 lbs, and signed with the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. The Dodgers took their time developing Liranzo, having him play exclusively in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, and then exclusively in the Arizona Complex League in 2022. 2023 was Liranzo’s first year in full-season ball in the United States, and as a 19-year-old he clobbered 24 home runs in just 94 games at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Liranzo’s power numbers dipped in 2024, as he hit just 7 home runs in 74 games with the Dodgers High-A affiliate Great Lakes After the trade he quickly added 5 home runs to his season total in just 26 games with High-A West Michigan while walking at an astonishing 22.6% clip and striking out just 17.4% of the time. It should also be noted that Liranzo appears to be stronger at the plate from the right side, as he hit for a .287 average and slugged .529 against lefties in 2024, while hitting just .229 and slugging just .368 against righties.

It remains to be seen whether Liranzo can stick behind the plate long-term. The Dodgers exposed Liranzo to first base every season while he was in their organization, but it’s noteworthy that the Tigers only used Liranzo as a catcher or a DH in his 26 games with them. He did split his time evenly, catching 13 games while DHing the other 13, so 2025 should shed more light on the long-term positional outlook of the 21-year-old.

Liranzo seems poised to begin the season at Double-A Erie, and while it may be 2026 at the earliest before we see him in Detroit, Liranzo could push for a promotion to Triple-A before the season’s end with a strong first half. If Liranzo can build on the success he’s had thus far, his profile reminds me of someone like Francisco Alvarez, who also showed off 25 home run power in the minors while walking at a very high rate.

(David Gofman)