Quite OT- Detroit Tigers top prospects according to Baseball America
Baseball America has been releasing their top 10 prospects for each organization and today was all about the Tigers. If this is too far off the beaten path then so be it, but for stitch-heads pitchers and catchers report in just over a month so I thought maybe this could get some traction.
- Nick Castellanos
- Devon Travis
- Bruce Rondon
- Robbie Ray
- Jake Thompson
- Jonathon Crawford
- Corey Knebel
- Eugenio Suarez
- Domingo Leyba (? Who?)
-
Hernan Perez
Link for those inclinded to read some of Ben Badler's thoughts.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/2014-detroit-tigers-top-10-prospects/
January 10th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
"Tiger's top prospects" made me think that Tiger Woods is in the business of ranking the porn stars he'd like to hook up with.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
I'll update the OP so it won't confuse anyone else to your dirty thoughts. =D
January 10th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
probably exists somewhere
January 10th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
Or at least look at the pictures.
January 10th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
I feel the same way about the Touch The Banner blog.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
how this is "Quite OT" as it's about sports (which is discussed here). It's just professional, not collegiate.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Additionally, something is either OT or it's not. It's like being pregnant. You can't be sorta pregnant or really pregnant - you're either pregnant or you aren't.
Same goes for off topic threads. This is OT.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^
Quite, off topic. I have quite the herpes outbreak today.
January 10th, 2014 at 3:15 PM ^
Have you seen, or better yet lived with a woman in the latter stages of her 3rd trimester? There is such a thing as "really pregnant."
January 10th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Ehh it's OT for the timing really. Michigan basketball had a big win yesterday, and the OC news this week makes this more OT than usual in my opinion at least.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^
So how many of these prospects can the Tigers parlay into the next Miguel Cabrera?
January 10th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
any of the big name Cuban or Japanese guys to supplement the farm system or roster. Maybe the purse strings really have been tightened.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
"The Tigers’ track record in trades and free agency speaks both to the organization’s ability to forecast performance for other teams’ major leaguers and to properly evaluate their own prospect inventory."
I saw that in the article and I tend to agree with that - the Tigers seem to make decent predictions of performance and trade based on those. It isn't always right, but the Tigers seem to be typically accurate when it comes to this particular aspect of the business of baseball.
I will also say that Nick Castellanos is one of the prospects I am most curious about this coming spring. He was in 11 games and went 5-18, so it isn't like there's a sample of MLB play on which to make guesses, but I did catch him a few times in Toledo over the summer and liked what I saw. Now that third has opened up, it will be interesting to see what he can do in a starting role at the major league level
Major and minor leagus numbers are (HERE). .
January 10th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
Castellanos has raked at every level on his way up to Detroit, the question will be what happens when he gets into a slump once enough teams have seen his strengths and weaknesses? How will he adjust, and what do the Tigers do at 3rd if he's floating around the Mendoza line come June/July? They've thrown alot of eggs into his basket, hopefully he repays their confidence in him.
January 10th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
Care to offer an insight into those thoughts? Because his numbers are impressive for a 21 year old prospect.
January 10th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
Considering that my profession is actually "baseball scout", I'm very interested in the rationale behind your statement. Because based on my own opinion, the opinions of dozens of scouts I've spoken to first hand, and the opinions of dozens more prospect evaluators at online publications, I'd say you're the only person who feels that way.
January 10th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
I'm just a coach. It's more of an eye test. When I watch Catellanos play what I see isnt explosive. He's athletic and technically sound but nothing he does is explosive or perfect. Right now he's using athleticism to overcome that he's not freakishly good, which is what you need to excel above AAA. He's also a bit gangly.
Of couse when he has more than a cup of coffee, you can say I was an idiot and you'll be right. As a lifelong tigers fan, I hope I'm wrong.
There is also the fact that I believe the Tigers have tried to peddle him, and can't.
Now tear me one if that makes you feel better.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
Is Rondon still considered a prospect? He was pretty full time towards the end of year and would have been through the end if he hadn't gotten dinged up.
What is his health status going into the 2014 season? He looked pretty good last year and he could be a big part of their bullpen success this year.
January 10th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
Technically, Rondon retained "prospect eligibility" by the skin of his teeth because he only threw 30 major league innings. You're right, if he didn't get hurt, he probably wouldn't have been eligible for these offseason lists. He didn't have any structural damage to his elbow, it was just inflamed and needed rest. He should be full-go when spring training starts.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
Who is Devon Travis? Obviously know Castellanos and Rondon since they should both be in Detroit much or all of this year. Who is that #2 guy though? Never heard that name.
January 10th, 2014 at 2:53 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 3:16 PM ^
Here I'll Google that for you.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2013/10/detroit_tigers_prospect_devon_1.html
January 10th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
umhero linked already, but here's more just the statistical numbers he put up between West Michigan and Lakeland last year. He also was fortunate enough to be a part of the Arizona Fall League, so he obviously impressed the Tigers' brass in his rookie season.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa578013&position=2B
January 10th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
January 10th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
He played at High A ball (Lakeland). Guess it depends where he ends up this year. All that said, Tigers just acquired a 2nd baseman of the foreseeable future in Ian Kinsler as part of the deal that sent Prince Fielder to Texas. The report also says this guy isn't good enough to play short (not that the Tigers need that either since they have that Jose Iglesias guy). Maybe they season him slow in Erie and Toledo and break him in in Detroit in two years as the utility infielder if he hits the same at AA and AAA as he did in single A last year.
January 10th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
Kinsler is aging and in decline and has never hit away from Arlington. While his pay is extremely high, it's far from a given that he is the 2nd basemen for the "forseeable future" - unless that future is the next 1-2 years. A move to 3B is possible with Castellanos a defensive questionmark and a couple 2B prospects in the pipeline.
The one thing the Tigers did this offseason that no one will argue with is add flexibility. If a 2B pushes into the lineup there will be a place for him.
January 10th, 2014 at 7:38 PM ^
I scouted Travis extensively last year when he was at West Michigan (prior to his promotion to Lakeland). I don't believe he's even close to the 2nd best prospect in the system, but I do believe he can be a solid, everyday major league 2nd baseman in time. He has an advanced feel for hitting, so he was able to carve up the low minors with relative ease. It's this year (when he plays at AA) that will be the test. If all goes as planned, he could take over 2B full time in 2016.
January 10th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
Hope Nick has a break out year at third. By all accounts his bat is MLB ready.
January 10th, 2014 at 4:57 PM ^
The system is pretty weak when you look at it on a list like this. Aside from Castellanos, there isn't a guy who I would guess most experts would project as an everyday contributor. Sure, Rondon will probably be part of the pen, but I think expectations on him have changed quite a bit in the last year. He needs to find his control, and aside from the triple-digit fastball, what pitch will worry a hitter?
Dave and the scouting department are going to have their hands full replenishing the system.
January 10th, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
Rondon has shown both a plus slider and plus changeup at varying times in his development. The changeup has the potential to be better, in my opinion, but the slider is no slouch. It's the command and consistency he needs to iron out.
January 10th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^
Don't read Baseball America if you want to read about prospects, etc.
Baseball Prospectus is far and away the best resource for scouting/prospects in baseball, and if you want Tigers-specific, the best place to go is to twitter. Follow @TigersProspects for any and all information you may need.
January 12th, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
for that twitter info.
IMO, a much more valuable piece of the twitterverse to follow than any narcissistic individual.