By: J.P. Schwartz

@Jaypers413 on Twitter

JP’s FreedomCardboard Blog



2012 Detroit Tigers Top 15 Prospect Rankings

Every year at this time I like to rank each team’s top prospects. My criteria is based upon both past performance and future potential to his parent team. This is my ranking of the 2012 Detroit Tigers Top Prospects. If you have any questions about my rankings, feel free to shoot me a message on twitter @Jaypers413

To qualify, a prospect must have fewer than 130 at-bats or 50 innings in MLB

#1 Jacob Turner RHP

Born: 5/21/1991

Highest Level Reached: MLB Detroit Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 4-5, 3.44ERA, 131IP, 35BB, 110K, .238BAA

MAJORS: 0-1, 8.53ERA, 12.2IP, 4BB, 8K, .315BAA

#2 Nick Castellanos 3B

Born: 3/4/1992

Highest Level Reached: Low-A West Michigan Whitecaps

2011 Combined Stats: .312, 36(2B), 3(3B), 7HR, 76RBI

#3 Aaron Westlake 1B

Born: 12/27/1988

Highest Level Reached: Short-A Connecticut Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: .250, 5(2B), 1(3B), 3HR, 19RBI

#4 Drew Smyly LHP

Born: 6/13/1989

Highest Level Reached: Double-A Erie Seawolves

2011 Combined Stats: 11-6, 2.07ERA, 126IP, 36BB, 130K, .227BAA

#5 Andy Oliver LHP

Born: 12/3/1987

Highest Level Reached: MLB Detroit Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 8-12, 4.71ERA, 147IP, 80BB, 143K, .272BAA

MAJORS: 0-1, 6.52ERA, 9.2IP, 8BB, 5K, .289BAA

#6 James McCann C

Born: 6/13/1990

Highest Level Reached: Low-A West Michigan Whitecaps

2011 Combined Stats: .146, 2(2B), 1HR, 7RBI (7 hits in 48 at-bats) (2nd Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#7 Casey Crosby LHP

Born: 9/17/1988

Highest Level Reached: Double-A Erie Seawolves

2011 Combined Stats: 9-7, 4.10ERA, 131.2IP, 77BB, 121K, .253BAA

#8 Brenny Paulino RHP

Born: 2/21/1993

Highest Level Reached: High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: 4-5, 4.41ERA, 51IP, 27BB, 52K, .222BAA

#9 Tyler Gibson OF

Born: 6/17/1993

Highest Level Reached: Rookie League GCL Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: .143 (2 hits in 14 at-bats) (15th Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#10 Brian Flynn LHP

Born: 4/19/1990

Highest Level Reached: Low-A West Michigan Whitecaps

2011 Combined Stats: 7-2, 3.46ERA, 67.2IP, 23BB, 57K, .235BAA

#11 Brandon Loy SS

Born: 5/3/1990

Highest Level Reached: High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: .250, 2(2B), 5RBI (14 hits in 56 at-bats) (5th Round Pick 2011 Draft)

#12 Avisail Garcia OF

Born: 6/12/1991

Highest Level Reached: High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: .264, 16(2B), 6(3B), 11HR, 56RBI, 14SB

#13 Danry Vasquez OF

Born: 1/8/1994

Highest Level Reached: Rookie League GCL Tigers

2011 Combined Stats: .272, 8(2B), 1(3B), 2HR, 30RBI

#14 Jose Ortega RHP

Born: 10/12/1988

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Toledo Mudhens

2011 Combined Stats: 1-3, 6.30ERA, 50IP, 27BB, 44K, .310BAA

#15 Matt Hoffman LHP

Born: 11/18/1988

Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Toledo Mudhens

2011 Combined Stats: 2-5, 3.45ERA, 62.2IP, 25BB, 46K, .252BAA

Disclaimer – I did not attend any minor league games this year, nor do I claim to have any scouting experience. These lists are the product of my own research of statistics and online scouting reports.