Who are Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith? What to know about prospects traded for Tarik Skubal

Late Saturday night, the MLB world learned that Tarik Skubal, one of the best pitchers in baseball, was heading west to join the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

While a move always seemed possible given the Dodgers' recent success and their wealth of talent in the farm system, many MLB fans were still shocked that a deal actually came together. Now, Los Angeles' dynasty has somehow gotten even stronger and appears to be on a collision course with another World Series run.

Many fans want to know which players Detroit received in exchange for Skubal. While losing an ace is never ideal, the Tigers managed to land a significant haul for their former star.

Here's a look at the background of the three players heading to the Motor City in exchange for one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

MORE: LIVE tracker for the MLB trade deadline

Who is Zyhir Hope?

Hope is a 21-year-old center fielder who was the Dodgers' No. 5 prospect in their farm system, along with the No. 25-ranked prospect across the MLB, per MLB Pipeline. He will transfer over to join Detroit's Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves.

The Chesapeake, Va., native was originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round (No. 236 overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft. In January 2024, Hope was part of the trade that sent current Cubs first baseman Michael Busch to Chicago.

While Busch has already established himself as a key contributor in the majors, Hope is now receiving increased attention early in his career after becoming a centerpiece of the return for Skubal.

MORE: Full details of Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal

Who is River Ryan?

Ryan is a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher who was the Dodgers' No. 7 prospect in their farm system, and No. 68-ranked across the MLB. He will join Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens.

In 2021, Ryan was taken No. 340 overall in Round 11 by the San Diego Padres. He started his career as a versatile two-way player in college and was acquired by the Dodgers from the Padres in March 2022 in a trade for Matt Beatty. Just two seasons later, he made his MLB debut with four starts and had a 1.77 ERA in that big league stint. In August 2024, he fell victim to Tommy John surgery and missed the entirety of the 2025 season. 

We will never forget River Ryan before his injury. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ECLDiJNTt9

MORE: Complete grades for the Skubal-Dodgers trade

Who is Brady Smith?

The final player sent to Detroit in the Skubal trade was Brady Smith. Like Hope, Smith is only 21 years old. He was ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Dodgers' farm system and will join Detroit's High-A affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Smith originally joined Los Angeles in the third round (No. 95 overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft. In Low-A this season with the Ontario Tower Buzzers, before earning a promotion to High-A, Smith went 0-6 with a 3.88 ERA, 104 strikeouts and 27 walks over 65 innings. He also recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in June against the Visalia Rawhide, the Arizona Diamondbacks' affiliate.

According to MLB.com scouts, Smith's changeup has continued to develop throughout his career, while his fastball consistently sits in the mid-90s.

MORE: How does Skubal fit into Dodgers starting rotation?