Tigers Acquire 3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy and LHP Jake Higginbotham from Atlanta in exchange for RHP Joe Jiménez and cash considerations

SAN DIEGO, CA – The Detroit Tigers announced that they have acquired third base/corner outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and lefthanded pitcher Jake Higginbotham from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for righthanded pitcher Joe Jiménez and cash considerations.

Malloy, 22, saw time across three levels of the Braves organization in 2022, playing in 133 games between Single A Rome, Double A Mississippi and Triple A Gwinnett and hitting .289/.408/.454 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs and 81 RBI. Malloy is ranked as the top position player prospect in the Braves organization (No. 6 overall) by Baseball America and was named the best hitter for average and as possessing the best strike zone discipline in Atlanta’s Minor League system. He led all Braves Minor Leaguers in doubles (28), on-base percentage (.408), total bases (217) and walks (97), while ranking second in hits (138), RBI, extra-base hits (45), slugging percentage and OPS (.862). Following the season, he was named a Braves Organization All-Star by MiLB.com and was selected to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Team.

Malloy’s only other professional season came in 2021 with Single A Augusta, when he hit .270/.388/.434 with five doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games.

A native of New York, NY, Malloy was originally drafted by Atlanta in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech.

Higginbotham, 26, spent the entire 2022 season with Double A Mississippi, appearing in 48 games and posting a 2-5 record with three saves, a 4.73 ERA (51.1IP/27ER) and 48 strikeouts.  He ranked fourth in the Southern League with 48 appearances.

In four professional seasons, Higginbotham has pitched in 103 games, compiling a 9-10 record with eight saves, a 3.30 ERA (155.1IP/57ER) and 163 strikeouts.

A native of Buford, GA, Higginbotham was drafted by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Clemson University.

Jiménez, 27, made 62 appearances for the Tigers in 2022, and went 3-2 with two saves, a 3.49 ERA (56.2IP/22ER) and 77 strikeouts. Jimenez, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2013, was selected to the American League All-Star team in 2018.

The Tigers 40-man roster is now at 38.

–TIGERS–