2012 Detroit Tigers Top 20 Prospects

I’m going by rookie status, so I still consider Drew Smyly a prospect, even though he is pitching in the majors right now.
  
1.     SP Jacob Turner
Age: 21
Current Level: AAA Toledo
2012 Stats: 39 2/3 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9

Ranked #22 overall by Baseball America, Turner was a candidate to claim the Tigers’ 5th starter’s job in Spring Training.  However, an injury caused him to miss some time and was sent to High-A Lakeland.  He started 4 games with a 1.66 ERA before being moved to AAA, where he’s started 4 games with a 5.00 ERA. Turner’s best pitch is his 94-95 MPH fastball.  He also has a plus 12-6 curveball and changeup that needs more development but could also turn into a plus pitch.  He has good control of the strike zone, but he still lacks command of his secondary pitches.  With the lack of a plus-plus pitch, his ceiling is only as a #2 starter.  He could see some time in 2012 if an injury occurs to one of the Tigers’ starting pitchers with a permanent fixture in the rotation by 2013. 

2.     3B Nick Castellanos
Age: 20
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 203 PA, .419/.478/.559/1.036, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 19 BB, 32 K

Ranked #45, Castellanos has raked in High-A and it’s only a matter of time before he is called up to AA Erie.  He’s not a great fielder, but he shouldn’t be forced to switch positions.  Castellanos is still a few years away from reaching the majors but with Victor Martinez’ contract ending by then, Miguel Cabrera can slide to the DH role making room for Castellanos at 3B.  Castellanos is projected to hit for power once his body fills out and if he can cut down on his strikeouts, he could also hit for a high average. 

3.     SP Drew Smyly
Age: 23
Current Level: MLB Detroit
2012 Stats: 48 2/3 IP, 3.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.8 BB/9

Smyly earned the 5th spot in the Tigers’ rotation and it appears to be the right decision as he’s been very good so far this year.  He has four pitches, a 91 MHP fastball, a cutter, a slider and a splitter.  He has very good command of all of these pitches, which explains how he was able to rush through the minors.  None of his pitches are overpowering, so he’s only projected to be a mid-rotation starter. 

4.     SP Casey Crosby
Age: 23
Current Level: AAA Toledo
2012 Stats: 43 2/3 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 5.2 BB/9

Crosby has already missed some time with Tommy John surgery, however scouts still like him.  He has 3 pitches, a mid-90s fastball, an above-average curveball and a changeup.  All could be plus pitches for him, but command and control is still an issue and the high walk rate this year shows that it is still a problem.  If he can command his pitches, he could end up as a mid-rotation starter, but he may be destined for the bullpen. 

5.     SP Andy Oliver
Age: 24
Current Level: AAA Toledo
2012 Stats: 49 2/3 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 10 K/9, 6.9 BB/9

There is much debate over Oliver’s ceiling.  Some scouts see him as a reliever, while others think he can be a back—end starter.  He has a 95 MPH fastball, but a still in progress slider and changeup.  He lacks command and that shows with his very high walk rate.  However, his strikeout rate is fantastic, so if he can get at least one of his secondary pitches under control, he could be a great reliever for the Tigers in the future.

6.     C Rob Brantly
Age: 22
Current Level: AA Erie
2012 Stats: 163 PA, .305/.350/.457/.807, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 9 BB, 15 K

More of an offensive-minded catcher, Brantly is holding his own at the catcher position defensively.  The Tigers are aggressively moving him up in the minors, and he could be ready to contribute in the majors as soon as 2013.  However, this aggressiveness could be limiting his defensive abilities.  He doesn’t have a lot of HR power, but he should show gap power and hit for a good average.  He doesn’t strikeout much, but he also doesn’t walk much either.  He is not projected to be a starting catcher in the majors but should be able to stick as a backup.  The Tigers don’t have an immediate need for a catcher and also have another catcher prospect in James McCann, so Brantly could be trade bait at the deadline. 

7.     SS Eugenio Suarez
Age: 20
Current Level: A West Michigan
2012 Stats: 215 PA, .278/.379/.400/.779, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 26 BB, 47 K

A very slick defensive SS, Suarez is also showing hitting ability, something of a rare combination in the Tigers farm system for middle infielders.  Although he is doing this at a low level so it’ll be interesting if he can keep this up as he advances to the higher levels.  Being a switch hitter might give him an advantage, though.  I’m hesitant to say that his ceiling is an everyday SS in the majors, but he’s looking like he might stick at least in a utility role once he’s ready in a few years.    

8.     SP Brenny Paulino
Age: 19
Current Level: N/A
2012 Stats: N/A

Paulino must be in extended Spring Training because I can’t find any information on what he’s doing in 2012.  Last year he made it as high as High-A Lakeland, but only made 2 starts giving up 13 ER in a little over 5 innings after spending most of the year in rookie ball.  Scouts like Paulino’s raw talent, though.  He has an above-average 95 MPH fastball, but a below-average curveball and changeup.  He lacks command and control right now which could move him to the bullpen if he can’t develop his secondary pitches.  If he can’t command his secondary pitches, he’ll get moved to the bullpen but if he can, his status will quickly rise.    

9.     C James McCann
Age: 22
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 144 PA, .260/.313/.313/.625, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 6 BB, 24 K

James McCann has very good defensive skills but his hitting ability is somewhat lacking.  If he can show average hitting ability, he could end up as a starting catcher at the ML level.  Many scouts are projecting a low average for him and some gap power.  He currently isn’t hitting for any power so far this year.  Right now, because of his defensive skills, he’s projected to just be a backup at the ML level. 

10.   OF Tyler Collins
Age: 22
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 198 PA, .287/.364/.414/.777, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 19 BB, 23 K

Collins doesn’t have the best tools in the Tigers system, but all he’s done is hit since the Tigers drafted him.  He doesn’t have much power but has good bat control and doesn’t strikeout a lot, so he should be able to hit for a good average.  He struggles against left-handers, so he’s only projected to be a 4th OF at the ML level. 

11.   1B Aaron Westlake
Age: 23
Current Level: A West Michigan
2012 Stats: 198 PA, .230/.313/.397/.710, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 21 BB, 41 K

Drafted as a senior in college, Westlake was projected to move rapidly through the Tigers’ minor leagues.  However, they decided to put him back at Class-A West Michigan instead of High-A Lakeland and in AA by the end of the year as many were predicting.  Many scouts project that he’ll be ready for the majors by 2013.  However, he’s struggled so far this year and as a 23 year old in Class-A, that is worrisome.  His best tool is his power, although he should also hit for a decent average.  If he can’t dominate in this level, he might never reach his full potential.  Defensively he’s average at 1B, and he’s also played some RF since he’s currently blocked at 1B by Prince Fielder.

12.   SP Alex Burgos
Age: 21
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 48 2/3 IP, 5.55 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 6.5 BB/9

Burgos showed very good success at West Michigan last year but has failed to carry that at the next level.  He has an 88-89 MPH fastball with an above-average curveball and changeup.  He is able to keep the ball down and induce a lot of groundballs, which is a good thing for a pitcher.  His ceiling is a back-end rotation starter, but currently it looks like he fits the mold of Casey Crosby and Andy Oliver with that high walk rate.  Hopefully it’s just nerves adjusting to a new league as the FSL is usually a pitching dominate league.       

13.   SP Kyle Ryan
Age: 20
Current Level: A West Michigan
2012 Stats: 54 1/3 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 5.0 K/9, 1.3 BB/9

Kyle Ryan throws a fastball, slider and changeup with very good control as shown in his walk rate.  He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but as he matures and gains better command of his pitches, he should stick as a back-end starting pitcher.  As he adds velocity to his fastball, the strikeouts should increase. 

14.   SP Brian Flynn
Age: 22
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 57 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 2.7 BB/9

Flynn has an overpowering 95 MPH fastball.  He also has a slider and a changeup.  He has shown better command than scouts initially gave him credit for.  If he can stick as a starter, his stock will rise, but he might be destined for the bullpen.  Being left-handed with a powerful fastball, he’ll get his chances.

15.   RP Bruce Rondon
Age: 21
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 15 1/3 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 14.1 K/9, 4.7 BB/9

Bruce Rondon has an above average fastball that has reach triple digits at times, but mostly tops out at 98 MPH.  He also has a slider in progress.  The fastball allows him to have an above average strikeout rate, but he has control issues which gives him a poor walk rate.  If he can develop an average slider while working on his control issues, he should finish the year at AA.  Injuries have been a problem, though.    

16.   OF Avisail Garcia
Age: 21
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 183 PA, .304/.339/.468/.807, 5 HR, 23 RBI, 7 BB, 35 K

Garcia is an odd one to rank.  He does have some good skills, he’s good defensively, he has good speed and his bat control is good.  The downside is that he hacks at everything, resulting in a poor walk rate as a high strikeout rate.  Until he learns better plate discipline, his ceiling isn’t very high. 

17.   OF Daniel Fields
Age: 21
Current Level: High-A Lakeland
2012 Stats: 84 PA, .250/.310/.395/.704, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 6 BB, 22 K

Scouts love his tools, but they haven’t translated yet on the field.  In fact, he went backwards in 2011.  He’s only projected to be a 4th OF at this point, but is still being projected to hit for good power and a decent average that could steal as many as 20 bases.  Perhaps the Tigers ruined him by putting him at such a high level at such a young age; this is his 3rd year at High-A Lakeland.  Defensively, he was a SS in high school, but the Tigers moved him to CF.  He’s still adjusting, but could turn into an above-average defender.

18.   OF Tyler Gibson
Age: 19
Current Level: N/A
2012 Stats: N/A

I think Gibson is in extended Spring Training as he hasn’t played anywhere yet this year and was only in rookie ball last year.  He doesn’t have much pro experience but scouts like his tools.  He has plus power, plus-plus speed.  His ceiling is high right now, but it’s hard to get excited about someone who doesn’t have a ton of experience. 

19.   OF Danry Vasquez
Age: 18
Current Level: A West Michigan
2012 Stats: 112 PA, .162/.218/.222/.440, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K

Another OF that scouts love the tools, but hasn’t translated yet on the field except for his .272 AVG last year.  He has gap power right now that could turn into HR power as he fills out.  His plate discipline is his biggest weakness.  Defensively, he should be an above average RF.  Tigers might have rushed him by putting him in A West Michigan at such a young age as he is struggling mightily.      

20.   SS Brandon Loy
Age: 22
Current Level: A West Michigan
2012 Stats: 199 PA, .243/.304/.318/.622, 16 BB, 36 K

Brandon Loy is a very good defensive SS, but only has the ceiling of a utility infielder.  He has been described as having “small ball” skills and a “grinder” so that along with his defensive skills could make him reach the majors.  If he can improve on getting on base and hit for a decent average, say around .250, he could be a starter for a few years.