Hailed by Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal and Yahoo! Sports for its “insightful and often contrarian viewpoint to prospect rankings,” the Prospect Digest Handbook is a perennial favorite among baseball enthusiasts, minor league fans, and fantasy general managers. Now back for its fifth season, the Prospect Digest Handbook is the definitive guide to the minor leagues.

1. Matt Manning, RHP

Background: There are dominant debut outings and then there are dominant debut outings. Manning, the ninth overall pick out of Sheldon High School two years ago, happened to fall into the latter category. Throwing 29.1 innings in the Gulf Coast League, the behemoth man-child posted a videogame-esque 46-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, unlike his former first round pick counterpart, Beau Burrows, Detroit opted to keep Manning in short-season ball to start his sophomore campaign. And, of course, Manning dominated: in nine starts with the Connecticut Tigers, he threw 33.1 innings, struck out 36 and walked 14 to go along with a sparkling 1.89 ERA. The front office bumped him up to West Michigan in early September for five more starts. And after two craptacular outings, Manning found his footing by posting a 22-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his final 15.1 innings of work. The behemoth right-hander finished the year with a 62-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 3.18 ERA in 51.0 innings.

Projection: Despite getting held back a bit by forcing him to work in the New York-Penn League, Manning looks like the most promising of Detroit’s Vaunted Four. He’s huge – he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds – with a matching fastball, big time swing-and-miss tendencies, and surprisingly strong control. If I’m the Detroit front office, I would have no qualms about having the big kid start the year off in High Class A. He’s going to be able to handle it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manning become the best pitching prospect in baseball come this time next year.

Ceiling: 5.0-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2019/2020

2. Franklin Perez, RHP

Background: It was a tough, bitter pill to swallow – and one that was likely several years overdue – but the Tigers finally relented and acknowledged that it was time for an organizational rebuild – from the bottom on up. On July 18th, they sent veteran slugger and free-agent-to-be J.D. Martinez to Arizona for a trio of prospects. Less than two weeks later the front office shipped off backstop Alex Avila, son of Detroit GM Al Avila, and reliever Justin Wilson to the Cubs for two prospects and cash or a player to be named later. And, finally, on August 31st, the team pulled off two whoppers. The Motown Kitties sent Justin Upton to the Angels for Grayson Long and Elvin Rodriguez. The second swap was likely the hardest move to make in recent franchise history: they shipped Justin Verlander, former AL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Winner, to the eventual World Series champs Houston Astros. And, boy, did they fetch a package of high upside prospects: right-hander Franklin Perez, former first round pick Daz Cameron, and underrated backstop Jake Rogers.

Perez was interrupted late last season by a blister issue, one that forced him from making his Detroit organization debut. A lanky, projectable righty out of Valencia, Venezuela, Perez has hopped, skipped, and jumped his way through the minor leagues: he split his debut season between the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast; he then spent the 2016 season blowing away Midwest League hitters. And he made two brief, dominant stops in the Carolina and Texas Leagues last year. Overall, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander made 19 appearances between both levels, 16 of which were starts, throwing a career high 86.1 innings with an impressive 78-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio and an aggregate 3.02 ERA. For his three-year career, Perez has thrown just 203.0 total innings, averaging 9.5 punch outs and just 2.7 walks per nine innings.

Projection: If I had my choice of dealing away a still-in-his-prime franchise icon a la Verlander, I would look towards adding high upside hitting as opposed to pitching. The attrition rate is significantly reduced. However, if I’m going to go after young pitching, Perez is exactly the type of arm I would covet. Still not old enough to drink legally, he’s dominated at every single stop in the minor leagues – against significantly older competition. Perez is long and projectable, shows a potential plus-ability to miss bats, and controls the strike zone surprisingly well – especially for someone his age. He’s a bonafide front-of-the-rotation caliber arm. Consider the following little tidbits:

Since 2006, only five 19-year-old hurlers have thrown 30 or more innings in the Texas League: Franklin Perez, Julio Urias, Martin Perez, John Lamb, and Jordan Lyles.

Again, since 2006, only five 19-year-old hurlers have thrown 50 or more innings in the Carolina League with a strikeout percentage north of 24% and a walk percentage less than 8%: Perez, Triston McKenzie, Dylan Bundy, John Lamb, and Julio Teheran.

Perez isn’t a lock to see some time in Detroit in 2018, despite his accelerated learning curve. But that’s only because of his relatively light workload he’s experienced up till now.

Ceiling: 4.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018/2019

3. Beau Burrows, RHP

Background: Taking a page directly out of new teammate Franklin Perez’s book, Burrows has made quick work of the low – and now middle – leagues of the minors in short order. Burrows, the 22nd overall pick just three years ago, began his professional career with a bang: the big Texas-born right-hander threw 28.0 innings in the Gulf Coast League, fanning 33 against just 11 free passes. He followed that up with another solid season as he moved into the Midwest League in 2016. In 21 appearances with the West Michigan Whitecaps, 20 of which were starts, he threw 97.0 innings while averaging 6.2 strikeouts and just 2.8 walks per nine innings – as a 19-year-old. Last season Burrows was ridiculously dominant with Lakeland in the Florida State League and continued to post strong peripherals after his second half promotion to Class AA. Overall, the big righty threw a combined 135.0 innings, fanning 137 and walking 44 en route to finishing with a 3.20 ERA.

Projection: It was a bit concerning that Burrows’ strikeout rate plummeted two years ago as he moved into Low Class A, but those numbers came roaring back – in a big way. He’s the prototypical Texan: big, well-built, projectable, and equipped with a lot of potential and swing-and-miss ability. Not sure if he ever ascends to true ace-dom, but he has a legitimate shot, especially if he can avoid the injury nexus.

Since 2006, here’s a complete list of pitchers under the age of 21 that tossed more than 50 innings in the Florida State League with a strikeout percentage north of 28% and a walk percentage less than 6%: Beau Burrows and Jose Berrios.

Berrios, who was widely recognized as one of the game’s top minor league arms, is coming off a spectacular showing with Minnesota last season: the then-23-year-old right-hander posted an impeccable 139-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 145.2 innings of work; he finished the year with a 3.89 ERA, a 3.84 FIP, a 4.51 xFIP, and a 3.62 DRA (Deserved Run Average). Burrows has a chance to post similar numbers with Detroit in the next two years, barring an injury setbacks.

Ceiling: 4.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018/2019

4. Daz Cameron, CF

Background: The second big piece the Tigers acquired from the Astros as part of the Justin Verlander swap last August. Daz, the son of former center fielder Mike Cameron, finally had a healthy year – which, not coincidentally, coincided with a dramatic increase in production. Cameron the Younger, the 37th overall pick in the 2015 draft, appeared in 123 games in the Midwest League, slugging .271/.351/.463 with 29 doubles, eight triples, and 14 homeruns. He also swiped 32 bags in 45 total attempts. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 27%. For his career, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound center fielder is sporting a respectable .255/.339/.400 triple-slash line, belting out 38 doubles, 14 triples, and 16 homeruns to go along with 68 stolen bases in 214 total games.

Projection: Here’s what I wrote in last year’s book about the tools laden center fielder:

“Roughly a year-and-a-half into his professional career and we still don’t have an idea of the type of prospect foundation Cameron is working with. He was pretty terrible in his stint with the Gulf Coast team but looked solid in the Appalachian League [during his debut]. Then last season he was really terrible with Quad Cities, but looked solid with Tri-City. It looks like he’s sporting a similar toolkit as his dad, but, again, it comes in glimpses – nothing more.”

Well, we finally got more than a glimpse. And it sure-as-hell was worth the wait. Because he looks like the second coming of his father, Mike, a potential Hall of Famer. Daz showed a decent eye at the plate, solid contact skills, above-average or better foot speed, and 25-homer potential. Defensively speaking, a calling card of his dad’s, he was tremendous. According to Clay Davenport’s metrics, the younger Cameron saved 18 runs during his time with West Michigan. Stud.

Finally, consider the following:

Between 2006 and 2014, there were only two 20-year-old hitters to post a wRC+ between 122 and 132 with at least a .180 ISO and 10 stolen bases in the Midwest League (min. 350 PA): Eddie Rosario and Johermyn Chavez.

Rosario, by the way, is coming off a season in which he slugged .290/.328/.507 with the Twins. That seems like a reasonable, approachable offensive ceiling for the younger Cameron.

Ceiling: 4.0- to 4.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2020

5. Alex Faedo, RHP

Background: Florida’s done a remarkable job of churning out high caliber pitching prospects – especially two years ago when A.J. Puk (sixth overall), Dane Dunning (29th), Logan Shore (47th), Shaun Anderson (88th), and Scott Moss (108th) were all taken before the fifth round. And Faedo, a massive 6-foot-5, 220-pound Florida native, followed in his former teammates’ footsteps. The hard-throwing right-hander burst onto the scene as a true freshman for the Gators, throwing 61.1 innings between the bullpen and rotation, averaging 8.66 strikeouts and just 2.35 walks per nine innings to go along with a 6-1 record and a 3.23 ERA. Faedo’s production leapt into another whole stratosphere during his sophomore campaign: in 104.2 innings of work, the big righty posted an impeccable 133-to-21 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Last year, Faedo threw a career high 123.2 innings with another round of dominant peripherals: 157-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Detroit grabbed the former Gator with the 18th overall pick and held him out of any minor league action, likely in a move to govern his innings after a couple big seasons.

Projection: Per the usual, here’s what I wrote about him heading into the draft last season:

“Consider the following little tidbits about the former high school late round flier:

Faedo looks like a nice, safe #2/#3 type arm with some upside. He has size, projectability, and a track record of success.”

Ceiling: 3.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2019

6. Jake Rogers, C

Background: The third and final – though far from nondescript – piece the franchise received from Houston in the Justin Verlander swap. Rogers, a third round pick out of Tulane two years ago, has produced well beyond expectations with the bat since entering professional ball. A career .233/.333/.309 hitter with the Green Wave, Rogers hit a combined .233/.341/.377 with 10 doubles, a pair of triples, and three homeruns between the New York-Penn and Midwest Leagues to go along with a 119 wRC+ during his debut. Last season, spending time between both organizations High Class A affiliates as well as 27 games in the Midwest League, Rogers hit a combined .261/.350/.467 with 25 doubles, four triples, and 18 homeruns. He also swiped 14 bags in 22 attempts, just for good measure. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 28%; impressive on its own, but more so given his paltry triple-slash line in college.

Projection: Rogers’ calling card is his defense. It’s otherworldly. It’s why a career .233/.333/.309 collegiate hitter, who batted .261/.384/.403 during his final amateur season, hears his name called in the third round of the draft. According to Clay Davenport’s defensive metrics, Rogers saved 19 runs for his ball clubs. First off, there’s no way that number doesn’t come crashing back down to earth in 2018. Just by pure regression alone. But it’s clear that he’s a stellar, game-changing defensive backstop. Offensively speaking, well, there’s a decent power/patience foundation already in place. If Rogers can maintain an average walk rate and 15-homer power, this is a 3.0-win catcher. All. Day. Long. The only reason why I’m grading him as a Moderate to High risk is because he’s a polished collegiate player with no experience above High Class A. In the end, the Tigers received a potential front end arm, a 10-year league average or better backstop, and one potential long term above-average center fielder for Justin Verlander. Seems very, very good for both sides.

Ceiling: 3.0-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2019

7. Joe Jimenez, RHP

Background: An undrafted free agent signed out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy for $100,000 five years ago. Jimenez has long been a personal favorite of mine. Last season, despite missing a month of action, the big 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander split his time between Detroit and the Toledo Mud Hens – though the stats and game logs tell an entirely different story. Grab a pad and paper it’s going to get crazy. Jimenez made two appearances with Toledo to start the year. Detroit called him up for one game and sent him back down for a week. He then got recalled for a week or so, before getting sent back down. He made one appearance in the International League before hitting the DL for a month. He made one rehab tune-up in High Class A and then jumped all the way back up to Class AAA. Six weeks later he got called up in early August and remained with the Tigers for the rest of the season. Jimenez finished his whirlwind travels with a dominant 36-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 25.0 innings and a 1.44 ERA. The MLB numbers weren’t so pretty. He made 24 appearances, throwing just 19.0 innings while fanning 17 and walking nine. The bad part: he finished with a 12.32 ERA.

Projection: I’ve long been a fan of Jimenez. For years, actually. So let’s take a walk down memory lane – again. Here’s what I wrote about Jimenez in the 2015 book:

“Granted, it’s two small sample sizes, but he’s been utterly dominant. And as far as initial returns on an investment, Jimenez has rewarded the club with more than enough hope. You’d have to assume that given the dominance and ease, the Tigers would think about moving him into the rotation down the line.”

I followed that up with this in the 2016 edition:

“Unfurling an upper-90s heater in the MLB Futures Game, Jimenez has the potential to develop into a top-notch starting pitcher – if the organization eases the reins a bit on the dominant hurler. Please, please push him into the rotation. I’m literally begging. He’s thrown just 87.2 innings in his career; it’s time to find out what he’s capable of. One thing to watch in the coming years: he lived – without dying – by the fly ball last season, so homeruns may become an issue at some point in the near future, maybe.”

And, finally, here’s what I wrote in last year’s tome:

“I really, really wish the Tigers would throw him in the rotation and watch him blossom into a very promising front-of-the-rotation caliber arm. They won’t. But, damn, I really wish they would. Among all MiLB pitchers with at least 50 innings last season, Jimenez posted the sixth best strikeout percentage (38.4%) and the tenth best strikeout-to-walk percentage (30.1%). What else is there to write? He’s freakin’ really, really good. He’d be way more valuable in the rotation…”

Jimenez showed off a dominant mid-90s heater during his debut, complementing it with a mid-80s slider and a hard 88 mph changeup. The minor league numbers have been insane at every stop. And despite the horrific showing in the bigs last season, he’s the future closer.

Ceiling: 2.0-win player

Risk: Low to Moderate

MLB ETA: Debuted in 2017

8. Mike Gerber, OF

Background: A late round pick out of Creighton University in 2014, Gerber has proven to be quite the find. Originally taken in the 15th round, 460th overall, the 6-foot, 190-pound lefty-swinging outfielder continued to do the one thing he’s done every year: hit. After getting a 41-game cameo with the Erie SeaWolves in 2016, Gerber opened up last season back with the club. In 92 games, he slugged .291/.363/.477 with 22 doubles, two triples, and 13 homeruns. He also swiped 10 bags in 16 total tries. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 31%. For his career, he owns a quietly impressive .291/.358/.478 triple-slash line with 106 doubles, 23 triples, 52 homeruns, and 43 stolen bases in 433 games.

Projection: Described in last year’s book as quietly efficient. Gerber does everything well enough to suggest that he could carve out a lengthy big league career as a non-contending team starter. Solid-average or better tools across the board with improving numbers against fellow southpaws. Defensively, he’s been OK in center field. This might be one of the more bold statements in the book: Mike Gerber, the former 15th round pick out of little Creighton University, is a better prospect – and will outplay – former Tennessee Volunteer and first round pick Christin Stewart. One final thought: Success at the Class AA level is more important than any other level. Over the course of two seasons, Gerber’s sporting an aggregate .282/.359/.463 triple-slash line.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Low to Moderate

MLB ETA: 2018

9. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP

Background: There’s nothing wrong with betting on yourself. Hell, I’d venture to say that every successful person – in whatever career field – continually bets on themselves. You just have to be willing to accept the consequences. Enter: Kyle Funkhouser. The Dodgers grabbed the 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-hander in the first round, 35th overall, following a strong junior campaign at the University of Louisville. Los Angeles, according to reports, offered Funkhouser between $1.7 and $2 million. He declined, opting instead to head back to UL for his senior season. That’s just not betting big on himself. That’s pushing all the chips to the center of the table type of bet. Funkhouser’s control/command regressed mightily during his senior campaign and the Tigers happily snagged him in the fourth round, signing him to a deal worth about $1 million less than he turned down.

Oops…

Anyway, Funkhouser looked incredibly dominant in the New York-Penn League during his debut, throwing 37.1 innings with 34 punch outs and just eight free passes. The hard-throwing righty opened up the 2017 season in dominant fashion in the Midwest League, throwing five innings of one-hit ball while fanning nine and walking just one. He made six more starts before getting bumped up to High Class A. His season would end just five starts into his tour in the Florida State League, courtesy of a wonky elbow.

Overall, Funkhouser threw 62.2 innings between both levels, striking out 83 and walking just 19 to go along with an aggregate 2.44 ERA.

Projection: First, here’s what I wrote about him prior to the 2015 draft:

“A big, big arm with mid-rotation potential as he sits today – just as the case with Vanderbilt’s Carson Fulmer.

But Funkhouser comes with some added risk: nearly 16% of his season’s strikeouts have come from his dominant performance against Alabama State to open the season; he whiffed 12 in seven innings. Since then he’s averaged just under 7.8 punch-outs-per-innings.

He looks like a #3-type arm who could very easily slide into a backend reliever role in the coming years.”

And I followed that up with this analysis upon his return for his senior season:

“Well, the big arm from Palos Heights, Illinois, looks more like a relief option than he does a starting pitcher.

Funkhouser has never shown anything better than suboptimal control; he’s averaged 4.35 BB/9 in his career. But he does a good job keeping the ball in the park and will average about a whiff per inning.

It’s pretty safe to assume that whichever team grabs him in the draft this year will give him a couple opportunities to start – so he may figure it out in the minors – but he could be pushed quickly when he makes the move to a backend relief option.”

Fast forward one year and Funkhouser is pounding the zone with an unfamiliar regularity. In fact, he’s been doing that since toeing the rubber on a professional mound. Assuming the elbow inflammation won’t hamper him any further, Funkhouser looks like that mid-rotation starter I envisioned prior to the 2015 draft.

Ceiling: 2.0- to 2.5-win player

Risk: Moderate to High

MLB ETA: 2019

10. Isaac Paredes, SS

Background: Acquired along with Jeimer Candelario from the Cubs at the trade deadline for veteran backstop – and free-agent-to-be – Alex Avila. Paredes, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound shortstop out of Hermosillo, Mexico, got off to a promising start in the Midwest League, hitting .264/.343/.401 with 25 doubles and seven triples with a 113 wRC+ prior to the trade. Following the deadline deal, though, the young middle infielder looked lost and overwhelmed. In 32 games with Detroit’s Low Class A affiliate, also in the Midwest League by the way, Paredes cobbled together a paltry .217/.323/.348 showing, hitting just seven extra-base hits in 32 games. Overall, he finished the year with an aggregate .252/.338/.387 triple-slash line.

Projection: Paredes’ bat looked pretty promising in his debut in the Arizona Summer League two years ago when he slugged .296/.350/.425 as a 17-year-old. He also – initially – handled the Midwest League with relative ease as well. He’s young and left the only organization he’s known. It’s not surprising to see him stumble a bit. Expect a full recovery in 2018 – even as he moves into High Class A. Defensively he was solid. There’s some potential as a big league starter here, perhaps even of the above-average variety. Solid or better patience with sneaky power and strong contact skills.

Ceiling: 1.5- to 2.0-win player

Risk: Moderate

MLB ETA: 2020

Author’s Note: All statistics mentioned were gathered from Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, ClayDavenport.com, or Baseball Prospectus.