Tigers Lose Gabe Ribas to Rockies in Key Player Development Shakeup
The Detroit Tigers are saying goodbye to one of the architects behind their recent pitching resurgence. On December 9, the Colorado Rockies hired Gabe Ribas-formerly the Tigers’ director of pitching-as an assistant pitching coach, marking a significant shift for both franchises.
Ribas joined Detroit in 2021 after a stint as a pitching coordinator with the Dodgers, and he quickly became a central figure in the Tigers’ player development system. Brought in under Al Avila’s front office, Ribas remained a key voice even after the transition to current president Scott Harris. Alongside head pitching coach Chris Fetter, Ribas helped guide one of the more impressive pitching turnarounds in the league over the past few seasons.
And the results? They speak for themselves.
Will Vest and Tyler Holton emerged as reliable bullpen arms. Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize found their form again after stretches of inconsistency.
And then there’s Tarik Skubal-now a two-time Cy Young winner-whose evolution from promising lefty to elite ace can be traced directly to the collaborative work of Ribas and Fetter. It’s hard to overstate how much Detroit’s pitching identity changed under their guidance.
But Ribas’ departure is already being felt. With the first overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft, the Rockies selected RJ Petit, the Tigers’ No. 30 prospect. It’s a move that signals Colorado not only values Ribas’ insight but is also wasting no time tapping into his familiarity with Detroit’s system.
This hire is part of a broader and aggressive overhaul by the Rockies this offseason. They’ve brought in Paul DePodesta-best known for his data-driven philosophy in both MLB and the NFL-to help reshape the organization from the ground up. DePodesta, in turn, has added several key figures, including former Dodgers VP Josh Byrnes, Marlins pitching coach Alan Leichman, Cubs bullpen coach Matt Buschmann, and Twins pitching development specialist Matt Daniels.
That trio of Ribas, Leichman, and Daniels now faces one of the toughest challenges in baseball: building a pitching staff that can survive-and ideally thrive-at Coors Field, a ballpark that’s long been a nightmare for pitchers. But if there’s a group that might be up to the task, it’s this one. Ribas, in particular, brings a track record of using analytics to unlock potential in arms that other teams overlooked or gave up on.
His work in Detroit wasn’t just about improving individual pitchers-it was about building a unified, organization-wide approach to development. When he was first hired, Avila noted that Ribas’ role included teaching a consistent system across all levels of the organization, making sure everyone was “running on the same wheel.” That kind of structure doesn’t just produce results-it creates sustainability.
For the Tigers, this is more than just a coaching change. It’s a loss at the foundation of their pitching pipeline.
While Chris Fetter remains in place, and the front office under Harris has shown it can make smart hires, replacing Ribas won’t be easy. His fingerprints are all over the Tigers’ recent success on the mound.
Now, Detroit faces a critical offseason decision: finding the right person to keep the development engine running. Because if the Tigers want to continue building on the momentum they’ve created, they’ll need someone who can step in and carry forward the work Ribas helped start.