Pin 46 Shares

The 2019 version of the Detroit Tigers was the worst team in MLB. For the second time in three years they will have the “honor” of selecting 1st overall in the MLB Draft. They had the 5th overall pick in 2019. It is my hope, along with many others, that they simply take the best available bat as their minor league system is overloaded with pitching. In fact, at least offensively speaking, they were in the conversation for one of the worst offenses in MLB history last year. In seasons like that one must wonder who the guys in the system are that could help in the coming years to turn this Detroit Tigers team around. Well, luckily for you I am here to help you in your search.

Below you will see a tier system that we use to rank players. It gives you an indication of what type of production we think you can expect from a particular player at the MLB level.

Note: My list is constructed with fantasy purposes in mind over real life MLB rankings. For hitters, things like defense are greatly diminished and offense is enhanced. For pitchers, relievers lose a lot of value and starting pitchers are graded more for strikeouts, ERA and WHIP than being guys who are able to simply eat up a lot of innings.

So sit back, grab a pen, notepad and something to wet your whistle because I’ve got your Detroit Tigers prospects covered.



Prospects1500 Tiers:

Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years

Tier 2: Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor

Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor

Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact (e.g. middle reliever, low-ceiling UT guys)

Tier 5: Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team’s 40-man roster



Tier 1

1. Casey Mize, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

He has every chance to become a stud in the big leagues. Mize has all the makings you are looking for to be the ace of your staff. Whether you like a mid 90’s FB that is easily controlled with excellent life, a mid 80’s slider that he varies in speed as necessary, or a devastating splitter that is a signature strikeout pitch, Mize has you covered. My concern for him is quite simply health. Every Tigers fan held their breath when Mize left a game with what appeared to be an arm injury in June. The Tommy John light went off in a lot of heads. Mize returned to the mound but for as dominating as the first half of his season was, the second half was the polar opposite. It couldn’t help but to remind you of the injury concerns that have haunted him in the past.

Can’t imagine #Tigers RHP Casey Mize is in Lakeland much longer. 7 IP 0R 1H 1BB 6K — 81 pitches tonight 18 IP 2ER 21 K 0BB 0.50 ERA 76 seconds of 🤒🤢🤮 from tonight’s 💎 #MotorOn #RoadToDetroit pic.twitter.com/GO8PvjXQB9 — jrc (@_jchipman) April 18, 2019

2. Matt Manning, RHP

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

His delivery and command have seen steady improvements. This kid has the stuff to be a front-line starter in the big leagues. Manning boasts a low 90’s fastball that he can bump up to 95-96 as needed. His change-up lags behind the FB but his curveball is a legitimate strikeout pitch and has the chance to be plus plus. He and Mize have the potential to be dual aces on this Detroit Tigers staff for years to come.

3. Riley Greene, OF

Age: 19

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

The Detroit Tigers took Greene with the 5th overall pick in the 2019 draft. While most fans were hoping Andrew Vaughn or J.J. Bleday would fall, I think given time they will be happy with the pick. Greene boasts a potential 70 hit tool. He won’t be winning any HR titles but he has the tools to be a big time hitter when his time comes. Greene blew through the lowest levels of the minor leagues last year and finished up in West Michigan. While he no doubt struggled in A ball look for him to start there 2020. How quickly he is able to move will be up to him. I think my 2022 ETA is a little bit aggressive but if his first showing in pro ball is any indication of the type of player the Detroit Tigers drafted my estimate could well prove right.

Full Riley Greene AB as he flies out to CF pic.twitter.com/tKWCDZVacl — DFS Dave (@CorporalEddy) August 29, 2019

4. Isaac Paredes, 3B/SS

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

Paredes didn’t blow anyone away in 2019. That is not to say he wasn’t good. He put up a respectable slash line of .282/.368/.416 with 13 HR and 66 RBI in 478 AB. Those numbers are in line with what he has done through his career. So repeating these numbers in a full season at AA is nice to see. For the Tigers to return to prominence they are going to need Paredes to bring a big bat to Detroit.

Isaac Paredes NO DOUBTER. I think this is 10? I’m not even sure. It’s a bomb though. He can hit FB down the middle pic.twitter.com/Earjh8IvUY — Robert James (@confusion_reign) August 15, 2019

Tier 2

5. Tarik Skubal, LHP

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

Skubal is a guy that wasn’t even ranked in my Top 50 list at this time a year ago. So ummmmmmm yeah, my bad Tarik! I left him unranked at the start of last year because he had only thrown 22.1 innings to that point. While his numbers were good I just was not a believer yet and I wanted to see a larger sample size. Well now he has given a larger sample size and he has been impressive to say the least. In 2019, across 80.1 innings in A ball and 42.1 innings in AA, he posted a 2.42 ERA, 1.01 WHIP while striking out 179 guys for 13.1 SO/9 and following it up with a 2.7 BB/9. Needless to say Skubal has flown up these rankings. It will be fun to see what 2020 has in store for him.

Solid FSL debut for #Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal: 4 IP 1ER 2H 2BB 4K.

H 3/4 mod effort; 4+ cmmd.

FB 91-94 t95 Sinks it at lower velo;

decent run at 94. CB: 79-81 big 1/7 action. Flashed a few 5+, but battled cmmd & hung a few that he paid for. CH: 83. Profile may play up out the pen. pic.twitter.com/wGgH7nRNyt — jrc (@_jchipman) April 6, 2019

6. Daz Cameron, OF

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2019

Daz drops 2 spots in these rankings but don’t let that fool you, I still like this kid a lot. Greene was put ahead of him and the breakout of Skubal is what has pushed Cameron back. I still think he has 20/20 potential while playing a solid OF for the Detroit Tigers. He is very likely to play some games in Detroit starting in September at the latest.

#Tigers Daz Cameron takes a Tanner Houck offering for an easy triple to start his day. pic.twitter.com/3KhFXZvSXy — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) August 11, 2019

7. Parker Meadows, OF

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

Meadows is going to be a case near the top of these rankings where the stats don’t line up with the ranking. He slashed a paltry .221/.296/.312 but don’t let that sway you because he has real potential. He is on average 2 years younger than the guys he was playing against in West Michigan. Meadows has the tools to be an impact player at the MLB level but he needs the time for it all to development. I think he is going to end up being a stalwart in the Detroit Tigers outfield as soon as 2022.

Parker Meadows with a BB. Not as epic as a bunt but it raises his OBP. He then proceeds to steal 2nd on the first pitch. pic.twitter.com/OqZ5Z7UEvt — DFS Dave (@CorporalEddy) August 29, 2019

8. Alex Faedo, RHP

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

I was questioned a lot because of my higher than most ranking on Faedo at the beginning of 2019. So far my faith in Faedo has been reasonably rewarded as he starting creeping back up prospect lists after a respectable season. His command was incredible as he finished the year with a 5.36 SO/W rate which is nothing to sneeze at with when you consider he stuck out 134 guys in 115.1 innings. Don’t be surprised to see Faedo and others from the terrific 2019 Erie rotation make their way to Detroit later this year.

#MotorOn Here’s 55 seconds of #9-ranked pitching prospect Alex Faedo throwing ridiculous stuff on Saturday night, en route to 7 K’s in 6 IP. Stick around for that final pitch, it’s 100% illegal. pic.twitter.com/434cd5kItR — HookSlide (@HookSlide23) July 28, 2019

9. Willi Castro, SS

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: MLB

ETA: 2019

Castro is a guy that has made his MLB debut already. He has slashed .301/.366/.467 in AAA last year. Meanwhile in Detroit he struggled a bit, as to be expected, slashing .230/.284/.340. I always expected him to be the first impactful middle infielder to get his shot. While his defense has been suspect and I would expect that his bat will be his calling card if he is able to stick with the big league club. However, I would be shocked if we don’t see Castro in a Detroit Tigers uniform for the majority, if not all of 2020. For as much as I bash Al Avila, getting him in exchange for Leonys Martin should prove to be one of the better deals they made over these past few years.

Willi Castro bangs one off the wall. He really needed that. He has only 2BB since July started. pic.twitter.com/r2Fo2FYELe — Robert James (@confusion_reign) August 11, 2019

10. Joey Wentz, LHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

Wentz is a new addition to the list after coming over from the Atlanta in the Shane Greene deal (a deal at the moment looks like a win for the Tigers). His fastball only sits in the low 90’s but he commands it well and it has some nice action. He also features a curve and change that are both average pitches that have the makings of above average offerings. If everything comes together we could be talking about a #3 starter.

Scout on #Tigers Joey Wentz, “Deception is his bread and butter. He knows what he’s doing out there. If he finds your weakness as a hitter, he’s going to capitalize on it.” pic.twitter.com/HVudAWFDe6 — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) September 15, 2019

11. Jake Rogers, C

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: MLB

ETA: 2019

My note to start the article should be called the Jake Rogers clause. As a total package I think Rogers has a chance to have a good, long career for the Detroit Tigers. He should be able to stick around because I think he’s elite defensively. For fantasy purposes that helps because it means he will get a lot of plate appearances and plenty of playing time. So for my purposes Rogers’ bat is where the rubber meets the road. Rogers career minor league slash line of .242/.338/.442 leaves a lot to be desired, granted for a catcher it isn’t terrible. In his 112 at bats in the big leagues he slashed .125/.222/.259. Before you kill me on the ranking of Rogers know that for real life purposes I would put him at 6. However, for these rankings he falls just outside of the top 10.

#MotorOn Congratulations to Jake Rogers, #7-ranked prospect in the Tigers system, on getting the call-up to Detroit! Let’s celebrate by watching him throw out a bunch of runners in AAA over the past few weeks: pic.twitter.com/rs6GonHQgh — HookSlide (@HookSlide23) July 30, 2019

Tier 3

12. Franklin Perez, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A+

ETA: 2021

Hey, a Franklin Perez sighting. Of course it is on this list as opposed to the mound because since being part of the Justin Verlander trade Perez has thrown 27 innings for the Detroit Tigers. Purely speaking of skills he is in the top 5 conversation. When healthy Perez has a plus fastball/curveball combination in addition to at an average change up and slider. His FB sits between 92-94 but he can reach back for 96. He has a tight curveball that he throws with a lot of spin and is a great compliment to his FB. His slider and changeup both are average with the changeup having a nice fade and the slider still a work in progress. His diverse pitch arsenal and solid command with all his pitches amounts an upside of a #2. The question for him right now is, will he ever get and stay healthy?

13. Anthony Castro, RHP

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

I was a bit higher on Castro than most until he turned in a respectable 2019 season for Erie. I still think his stats are a little deceiving because his stuff is better than the numbers he is producing. In 2019 he has threw 102.1 innings in AA as both a starter and reliever. He produced a 4.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 1.78 SO/W. Those numbers aren’t great, as I said. However, I like his above average FB that can reach 96 and his slider has really turned into a weapon. Castro is a guy I would personally like to see the Detroit Tigers give a shot in the bullpen in 2020.

Some of the foolishness from #Tigers prospect RHP Anthony Castro’s start yesterday.

SL has come a long way this season. So much swing and miss. Look at all them swords.

🔥 🤺 🤒🤢🤮 pic.twitter.com/Q5fZwmKHTx — jrc (@_jchipman) July 15, 2019

14. Beau Burrows, RHP

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2019

I think that after the 2019 season it is very apparent that long term Burrows place with the Detroit Tigers will be in the bullpen. In the meantime he is almost certain to be the first of their stable of arms to reach the big league rotation. He has good command of his mid 90’s fastball and power curveball. Burrows still needs to work on getting more consistency and control out of his slider and changeup though. In 2019, over 3 levels, he posted a 4.84 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a SO/W ratio of just 1.92 all of which were well below his minor league averages. I think that ultimately his stuff will play up in the bullpen, which as I mentioned earlier, where I eventually expect him to wind up.

#Tigers Beau Burrows Delivery: ▶️ 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ – AA Erie (L) ▶️ 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ – AA Erie post-injury appearance (R) pic.twitter.com/TTTvBNzA7a — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) June 24, 2019

15. Nick Quintana, 3B

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A-

ETA: 2021

The Detroit Tigers selected the Arizona 3B in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft. While Quintana is probably better with his glove than his bat, he certainly is no slouch at the plate. That is not a knock on his bat, that is a credit to his excellent defense at the hot corner. He started off pretty rough at the plate but as the season wore on his bat started to heat up. One reason I might be higher than most on him is that he is not afraid to take a walk as evidenced by his 10.77% walk ratio in the minors and his 17.1% walk ratio in college. A player with a patient approach and good plate discipline has always been an attribute I value greatly. How quickly he can adjust to professional pitching will dictate how quickly he moves through the system.

Capping off a huge night, @wmwhitecaps infielder and @tigers 2019 second rounder Nick Quintana (@_Quintana13) slams an RBI-single for an insurance run and 3-1 lead in the 8th. Quintana finished 3-for-4 with his first professional HR and two RBIs. @ArizonaBaseball @RoadtoDetroit pic.twitter.com/OmaTIgprFx — Dan Hasty🎙(1) (@ThatDanHasty) June 26, 2019

16. Wenceel Perez, SS

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2021

Pronounced like Pencil, Wenceel is the first of the guys in these rankings that I am down on. I was probably too high on him after 2018 but his potential and his numbers gave me reasons to make him a top 10 prospect. He came back to reality in 2019 posting a .233/.299/.314. He stole 21 bags, but was caught 13 times which is a bit concerning. His defense is also becoming a concern for me. He made 33 errors in 2019 and in a few games I watched him this year he made some errors on fairly routine plays. However, I do believe that long term he will be fine defensively. To be a big league asset for the Detroit Tigers, Perez is going to need to be a speedy leadoff type hitter. I am less convinced he will be that guy than I was a year ago.

Base hit starts the night for #Tigers Wenceel Perez. pic.twitter.com/biULZOCoxK — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) August 27, 2019

17. Kody Clemens, 2B

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

Clemens is a guy that has fallen in the rankings but I am not down on him. It is a matter of other guys jumping him, not so much him falling. Regardless, this is a guy that will go as far as hit bat will take him. His hit tool isn’t quite as far along but he does have a good plate approach. I could see Clemens’ ceiling being in the .260 neighborhood with 20 home runs. Not too shabby for a middle infielder. He could even manage you a little speed as he swiped 11 bags in 2019. Those are surprising because Clemens is graded as a 40 runner and never stole more than 5 bags in college. Clemens has plus bat speed and in time I think his advanced knowledge of the strike zone will allow him to be someone with an average hit tool.

#Tigers prospect 2B Kody Clemens,17th on our board, just misses a go-ahead 3-run 💣 in the bottom of the 8th. pic.twitter.com/CJIwS1HIk2 — jrc (@_jchipman) August 4, 2019

18. Andre Lipcius, SS/3B

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2021

Detroit selected the Tennessee infielder in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft. Lipcius only hit 25 dingers during his 3 years for the Vols but 17 of them came in his final year. He is a bat first player but that’s not to say he isn’t valuable in the field. He is a versatile defender who’s final position might end up based on need more than anything else. In 67 games with West Michigan he slashed a very respectable .273/.344/.360.

Andre Lipcius with some weak contact but a close play at 1B pic.twitter.com/Jarx0BtZoJ — DFS Dave (@CorporalEddy) August 29, 2019

19. Bryant Packard, OF

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A-

ETA: 2021

The Tigers selected the East Carolina outfielder in the 5th round of the 2019 draft. He brings a polished bat into their farm system after having a terrific college career. He started off in Connecticut but quickly proved he was ready for a bigger challenge and got moved up to West Michigan. Packard has continued to hit well and should finish the 2020 season in the Midwest League. I think Packard has the upside of a .280 hitter with 20 bombs. He isn’t going to steal any bases but he should provide average defense. In 39 games, over 3 levels he slashed .296/.392/.422.

Bryant Packard just keeps hitting. Here’s a double. pic.twitter.com/aLhO3rLHwo — Robert James (@confusion_reign) August 20, 2019

Tier 4

20. Kyle Funkhouser, RHP

Age: 25

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2019

Coming out of Louisville in 2016 I thought the Tigers got an absolute steal with him in the 4th round. I have been waiting for his advanced arm to show up and pave his way to their big league rotation. Funkhouser has a fastball that sits in the low 90’s with decent life. His secondary pitches and sudden lack of control is where my concerns lie. His secondary pitches don’t show any reason to think they will be plus. The best of those pitches is probably his slider which could be plus, but he does not show any consistency with it. His changeup and curveball both exist but aren’t nearly MLB ready, which is a problem at his advanced age. The best bet for him at this point is turning into a quality reliever though I suspect he will get some starts at the big league level.

21. Jacob Robson, OF

Age: 25

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2019



Robson is a speedy outfielder who should see some time with the Tigers in 2020. While his best tool is speed he is still finding his way on the bases. He has stolen 79 bases in the minors but has been caught a whopping 44 times. His numbers were decent in 2019, slashing .267/.352/.399. Robson loses power in his swing as he tends to use too much of his upper half. He gets a lot of contact due to his quick hands but because he gets his front leg down too early he likely will max out at 10-12 homers but could hit as high as .270.

Jacob Robson hits a 2 run shot, pulls the @MudHens to within 2. #RoadtoDetroit pic.twitter.com/7SdGbxM22z — Tigers Minor League Report (@tigersMLreport) August 11, 2019



22. Adinso Reyes, SS

Age: 18

2019 Highest Level: RK

ETA: 2023

Reyes was a 2018 J2 signee for the Detroit Tigers. He is a right hander with a lot of power to his game and great bat speed. He is a pretty athletic kid with a strong throwing arm but he is likely to grow into 3B. Reyes is still quite raw but there is a lot of projection to like to his game. He is a guy that will be fun watching him come up through the system.

23. Bryan Garcia, RHP

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: MLB

ETA: 2019

I feel I have Garcia ranked higher than most in the industry, which is especially weird since Garcia is a reliever. Armed with a mid 90’s fast ball that has a lot of run and a plus slider he has the arsenal to be a shutdown closer. It will be interesting to see how he performs in 2020 after a decent season coming back from TJ surgery and getting a cup of coffee with the ball club in September.

24. Derek Hill, OF

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

The 23rd overall pick in the 2014 draft, Hill has never lived up to the bill. There is no doubt that Hill has some serious wheels, as he stole 21 bases last year with Erie but was caught 13 times. In 2019 he slashed .243/.311/.394 which isn’t great but they happened at AA and equals his career averages with the exception of SLG% which was up nearly 50 points! You would expect the top player you picked in the 2014 draft would be much further along than Hill is. But, if we are being honest, if you can get a 4th OF that is a good pinch running option out of him at this point you would be happy. He might still make it to Detroit as a speedy bench piece but he has been a disappointment after coming into the system with so much hype.

25. Roberto Campos, OF

Age: 17

2019 Highest Level: n/a

ETA: 2024

Campos was a J2 signee by the Tigers in 2019. He is pretty much an unknown at this point. Campos did not make many international lists and the Tigers credit that to him not being showcased like most the other guys that made such lists. Detroit claims to have been in on Campos for awhile and think they have found a gem. We really won’t know more until he starts playing some games.

A look at Tiger top 2019 international signee Roberto Campos from @BenBadler pic.twitter.com/6fgofVdxHl — All Things Tigers (@TalkingTigers84) December 5, 2019

26. Elvin Rodriguez, RHP

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: A+

ETA: 2021

I have been higher on Elvin than most but as people are starting to catch up he has dropped in my rankings. This stems from what I considered a pretty good draft class and the fact that he didn’t have the breakout in 2019 I was hoping. Granted, his numbers remained relatively in line with his career averages. The only exception was his walk rate rose. His arsenal consists of a mid 90’s fastball with nice movement, a terrific hard curveball that is his out pitch and a quickly developing changeup. I am interested how he responds to the Tigers pushing him to AA once the big arms move up to AAA. He has the upside of a #4 starter that could also end up as an impact bullpen arm if the top end arms in this system develop and don’t leave any room for him in the rotation.

#Tigers RHP Elvin Rodriguez Allowed a run, but 3K in the first frame.

FB: 91-93 t94; CB: 77-79; CH: 86 pic.twitter.com/d5vPUNYLTB — jrc (@_jchipman) April 6, 2019

27. Jose De La Cruz, OF

Age: 17

2019 Highest Level: RK

ETA: 2024

This is likely a name that you are not familiar with. Cruz was a J2 signing by the Tigers who was considered the 15th best prospect coming out of Cuba. He is an athletic player with a strong build. While he looks like a corner outfielder his plus speed might allow him to stay up the middle. Being that he is so young it is difficult to accurately predict what will happen to him but the Tigers signed one of the most tooled up players in the class and he should be someone to follow the next few years to see what he brings to the table.

28. Kingston Liniak, OF

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

I liked the Detroit Tigers finally getting on board with selecting some toolsy high school bats in the 2018 draft. It is a high risk/high reward strategy but it was exactly what the Tigers system needs as it desperately lacks potential impact bats. With all of that being said, Liniak is a very raw prospect but with a lot of promising tools. His calling card right now is his plus speed which is seen more in the field than on the basepaths. He has the potential for a 50 hit tool but his power isn’t likely to be more than 8-12 homers a year. He could develop into a .270 hitter with 10/30 potential sitting atop the Tigers lineup. Guys like Liniak will be fun to watch as they develop over the next few years.

Slow-mo of Kingston Liniak vs Matthew Liberatore today. It was more pronounced in the first pitch of the AB, which Liniak took. But I see a little hitch there. Something to watch. Very raw talent, lots to like. pic.twitter.com/6ZAbHr9e1z — Detroit Tigers Minor League Tracker (@Tiger_Lifer) June 10, 2019

29. Jose Azocar, OF

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

Azocar was a guy who saw his stock plummet in 2017. In 2018, repeating the same levels, he saw it rise back up a little bit. He slashed .297/.320/.399/.719 while stealing 11 bases on 15 attempts. While he did in fact rebound in 2018 there is not a lot of upside in him at this point. In 2019 he made his way to AA and played relatively well. He slashed .286/.317/399 while smacking 10 dingers, swiping 10 bags and knocking in 58.

Oh wow, Jose Azocar goes WAY out on a 1-0 FB from Rony Garcia. pic.twitter.com/GGAB9oxuXb — Robert James (@confusion_reign) December 13, 2019

30. Troy Stokes Jr., OF

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2020

Stokes was acquired off waivers from the Brewers in 2019. He possesses strong on-base skills though he sells out for power and has a lot of swing and miss to his game. Has put up multiple 20/20 seasons in the minors and won a MiLB Golden Glove in 2018.

After hitting nine total homers in 2015 and 2016, Troy Stokes Jr. broke out for 20 homers in 2017. In 2018 he followed it up with 19 more and based on this #SpringTraining blast, 2019 could also be full of homers. No. 13 on #Brewers Top 30: https://t.co/SXAhTte5eG pic.twitter.com/dEo1oqntGd — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 8, 2019

31. Paul Richan, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A+

ETA: 2021

Acquired in the Nicholas Castellanos deal. His FB sits 89-93 that is more command than velocity or life, above average low 80’s slider that is very effective, could end up developing an average change and curveball. Potential back end starter.

#Tigers RHP Paul Richan H 3/4 slot w/ mod effort.

Good a/s. Mod decep.

Seq well. 5+ control. 4+ cmnd. Fringy to avg arsenal. Sec inconsistent.

FB: 91-93 t94 some sink low; flat at upper velo

SL: 82-83 two plane breaker

CB: 80 11/5 action

CH: 84-86 firm; found a few barrels pic.twitter.com/1ZyN1lm3ib — jrc (@_jchipman) August 4, 2019

32. Eliezer Alfonzo, C/1B

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A-

ETA: 2022

Unless you really follow Tigers prospects this is a name you are almost certainly unfamiliar with. He is one of my favorite Tiger prospects. He has a career minor league slash line of .316/.392/.379. Granted he only has 2 HR, he does possess in buckets my favorite trait when looking at prospects. He has walked more than he has stuck out through his first 509 AB. He has 63 walks compared to 52 whiffs. I expect those numbers will change as he gets more AB against better competition but the skill set is there. This is a kid I will be keeping a close eye on and hoping that I saw something in him that others have missed.

33. Sergio Alcantara, SS/2B

Age: 23

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

Alcantara was a piece that came to the Tigers in the J.D Martinez deal. He is a glove first middle infielder who had a decent season in 2019 repeating the AA level. With so many other higher upside players in the Tigers system ahead of him, it is unlikely he ever contributes in a significant way. With that being said he should continue to improve and if he can get his bat going more on par with his glove he could sneak his way into a utility role.

No luck getting base hit footage of #Tigers Sergio Alcantara over the weekend, but still fun to watch him hit from the left side, a first for me. #SwitchHitter @TigresdelLicey pic.twitter.com/yNybE6wQ6P — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) June 26, 2018

34. Brock Deatherage, OF

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: A+

ETA: 2021

Deatherage was drafted in the 10th round of the 2018 draft and boy oh boy, was he fun to watch in his first season as he played better than anyone would have expected. His speed translates very well to the field. He is a horse on the basepaths and plays a solid center. He has legitimate 70 speed and possibly more. Deatherage came back to earth however in 2019 slashing just .228/.270/.357 in a full season with Lakeland. While he is not likely to ever be a MLB regular, he is an exciting player to watch and could carve out a role as a reserve OF.

Nice two strike approach for #Tigers prospect OF Brock Deatherage. pic.twitter.com/axPTxGGY6D — jrc (@_jchipman) August 10, 2019

35. Rony Garcia, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2020

Garcia was selected with the 1st pick in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft. His FB sits 92-94, curveball is above average with consistent shape, potential average changeup that is very raw and sits in the high 80’s, recently added a cutter that already projects to be average. Potential back end starter.

As @EmilyCWaldon noted earlier, new Tigers pitcher Rony Garcia started throwing a cutter last year to pair with his slower breaking pitch. (Backdoor curveballs, inside cutters here.) Garcia also throws low-90s fastballs and a changeup. pic.twitter.com/5K52UJ6cK8 — Lucas Apostoleris (@DBITLefty) December 12, 2019

36. Ulrich Bojarski, OF

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: A+

ETA: 2022

Signed as in international free agent at age 17. Bojarski’s calling card right now is his intriguing raw power. He has made impressively long strides since coming to the States though he very much remains a project. There is a lot to like about his potential but he has quite a ways to go before he is a real option in Detroit.

37. Carlos Guzman, RHP

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

Guzman was shut down early in the 2019 season. That is a shame because this is a guy I think is underrated in the system. He was having a solid year in the Midwest League. Through 7 starts he had a 2.73 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 27 K’s in 33 innings. However, his control wasn’t great as he walked 18 batters. He has an athletic delivery and features three pitches. The gem of his arsenal is his circle change-up. Guzman throws it with confidence, with good control. His fastball sits 92-94 mph. Guzman also throws a slider. At present, it’s a fringe pitch, which doesn’t concern me. A slider is easier to learn than a change-up for most players. Based on his athleticism and command of the change-up alone, Guzman is a guy to keep an eye on when he returns to action in 2020, probably back in West Michigan.

38. Alex Lange, RHP

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

Lange was acquired from the Cubs in the Castellanos deal. FB sits in the mid 90’s with very little life, changeup is average and sits around 85 with a good feel and his features an evolving slider that is below average right now. His best bet at making the big leagues will be in the bullpen.

39. Wilkel Hernandez, RHP

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2021

Hernandez was acquired in the Ian Kinsler deal. His FB sits around 92 but is mostly flat, he throws a slow curveball coming in at the low 70’s that lacks the command and break you would like to see, lastly he offers a changeup that comes in a little too hot in the high 80’s and and he lacks good command with it. Hernandez still has time to further develop but a middle reliever out of the bullpen is likely his ceiling.

#Tigers Class A @wmwhitecaps starter Wilkel Hernandez is through 5 IP against #Padres @TinCaps: ➡️ 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

68 pitches (44 strikes) Mixing curve, 76-77 MPH, with primary fastball focus, sitting 89-90, t91 MPH. pic.twitter.com/y1ibN1qUfJ — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) April 19, 2019

40. Hugh Smith, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2021

At 6’10” and 214 lbs. Smith is a large human being. Because of his size he has a hard time repeating his mechanics and it contributes to an inconsistent delivery. His FB sits in the mid 90’s but without much life, his change piece sits in the mids 80’s but is below average due to lack of command and feel and he throws a below average slider sitting in the low 80’s to round out his arsenal. While there is some improvement to be seen in his projection he is likely to be a fringe MLB reliever at his ceiling.

After a shaky debut, nice bounce-back outing for #Tigers Hugh Smith in his home debut. ➡️ 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K @gobucs pic.twitter.com/Kxv8TO5Z7B — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 31, 2019

41. Ryan Kreidler, SS

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A-

ETA: 2022

Detroit selected the University of California infielder in the 4th round of the 2019 draft. There is some room for added strength in his frame which might force him to the hot corner or possibly the OF.

🚀 for SS Ryan Kreidler! The @tigers fourth round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft launches his first professional home run, a solo shot for @thecttigers. pic.twitter.com/ybKnT7YbRH — Detroit Tigers Player Development (@RoadtoDetroit) July 9, 2019

42. Eduardo Jimenez, RHP

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: MLB

ETA: 2020

Jimenez was a J2 signee from 2011. He has steadily worked his way up the Tigers system with consistently good numbers. He has posted career MiLB stats of 2.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 and a 2.68 SO/W rate. Jimenez had a cup of coffee with the big league club in 2019 but like everyone else on the team he struggled.

Tier 5

43. Wladimir Pinto, RHP

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: AA

ETA: 2021

While he has hit triple digits with his electric FB it sits in the mid 90’s, his curveball is the 12-6 type and and when he has a good feel for it the break is terrific just inconsistent and he features a below average change that is very much a work in progress.

Nasty little two-strike combo from #Tigers Wladimir Pinto out in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/9PqK8SX46A — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) October 7, 2019

44. Danny Woodrow, OF

Age: 24

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2019

Like most of these young Tigers OF prospects, Woodrow is a speedy guy. Playing exclusively at AAA in 2019, Woodrow put up a very respectable slash line .274/.349/.340. His power numbers aren’t really there but batting almost .275 and getting on base in the .350 neighborhood is nothing to scoff at. Like a lot of these guys his SB numbers have typically left a lot to be desired but in 2019 he swiped 23 bags while only getting caught 5 times which was a nice improvement. With a career .287 average and .354 OBP he definitely has the numbers to go along with the defense that you are looking for in a reserve OF.

Another base hit for #Tigers Danny Woodrow. Three scouts behind me all calling him Woody, just as it should be. NL scout to me, “Kid can flat run.” All scouts I’ve spoken to out here have him as a 7-runner. pic.twitter.com/s5A3ZS8BHz — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) October 30, 2018

45. Cooper Johnson, C

Age: 21

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

The Tigers selected the University of Mississippi catcher in the 6th round of the 2019 draft. While Cooper doesn’t impress you with his bat he has a superior arm and his defense should be strong enough to give his a real chance at being a solid MLB backup.

#Tigers Cooper Johnson doing everything on both sides of the ball for West Michigan tonight. Snags a runner from behind the plate to start the night and follows it up with the second home run of his professional career, a 403-foot 🚀. @OleMissBSB pic.twitter.com/Yk3xr02UfJ — Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) August 8, 2019

46. Sam McMillan, C

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

McMillan really saw his stock drop in 2018 because of his bat. He slashed .158/.312/.206/.518. If you watch his swing it is very quick and compact. I am not sure why he struggled so mightily in 2018 but hopefully it is not a sign of things to come. He rebounded a bit in 2019 playing mostly in West Michigan A-ball (.241/.398/.314/.711). Between Rogers and McMillan the Tigers have a decent backstop situation in their system.

47. Jack Kenley, 2B

Age: 20

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2022

The University of Arkansas infielder Kenley was selected in the 8th round of the 2019 draft. To be fair Kenley should probably be a little higher on these rankings but I just personally need to see a bit more from him first. He has the potential upside as a poor man’s power and speed combo guy. We will very interested to see how he progresses in 2020.

#Tigers ‘19 8th rounder INF Jack Kenley quietly had a solid pro debut today: 3-for-4 1BB 1HR 4R. Arguably saw far superior pitching in the SEC. Would bet he’s SS Connecticut bound in the near future. pic.twitter.com/CswAwMYlww — jrc (@_jchipman) June 24, 2019

48. Zac Houston, RHP

Age: 25

2019 Highest Level: AAA

ETA: 2020

Houston had a dominating 2018 and it wouldn’t haven’t been a shock if he would have gotten the call in September. He posted a 1.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 13 K/9. Unfortunately, 2019 did not go so well for due in large part to a regression in his off speed offerings. He posted a 4.53 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 10.6 K/9. He will need to regain that 2018 form for him to make an impact at the MLB level in 2020 and beyond.

#Tigers RHP Zac Houston

FB 92-94.

Remember him regularly bumping upper 90s back in ‘17. Alll FB, no slider this outing. 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/QE5ivbqNx5 — jrc (@_jchipman) April 27, 2019

49. Zack Hess, RHP

Age: 22

2019 Highest Level: A

ETA: 2021

The Detroit Tigers selected the LSU Pitcher in the 7th round of the 2019 draft. At 6’9″ 219 lbs. Hess is an imposing figure on the mound. He features a mid 90’s FB with some run, a mid 80’s slider with nice movement when he has a good feel for it and a low 80’s change which is still a work in progress. The Tigers plan on deploying Hess exclusively as a reliever and he could make a quick rise through their system.

50. Pedro Martinez Jr, 3B

Age: 19

2019 Highest Level: RK

ETA: 2023

I haven’t talked about it this year like I did in 2018 but bloodlines are something that intrigue me. Who has better bloodlines than this kid? I will openly admit that Pedro probably doesn’t belong on this list right now but there is probably nobody I am hoping turns into a star than this kid. While he’s well beyond where he needs to be with his bat, Pedro Jr. has quick hands and a short compact swing that is geared more for contact than power right now. Posting a career slash line to this point of .221/.329/.320 is a bit concerning, but if you aren’t rooting for Pedro Jr. to skyrocket up the Tigers prospects rankings then I don’t think we could be friends.

So there you have another rendition of the top 50 Detroit Tigers prospect list. For anyone that actually read this from start to finish I say thank you! We went on quite a ride together. To everyone else who did a Google search for an obscure Tigers prospect and found this article I say thank you.

Hopefully you got some valuable information from this article. I can honestly say I had a good time, for the most part, writing this article in a nerdy kind of way I suppose. I will continue to keep my eye on these guys, as well as others, and keep you updated on their progress. Your comments and questions are welcomed and make sure you are following me on Twitter @CorporalEddy. If you aren’t following me on Twitter, you’re missing out.