This is definitely an article providing detail on the top tiered Detroit Tigers prospects. It is meant as an introductory to fans that dont follow the farm system, and concentrates on the potential WAR they could ultimately contribute as Major Leaguers. One staple of the David Chadd era as Tigers scouting director has been big, hard-throwing pitchers. Its no secret in the industry that Chadd uses every chance he is able to and nearly every dollar to get guys like Scott Green, Casey Crosby, Jacob Turner, guys with big traditional pitching frames with already-present big league velocity. In many cases, as with Rick Porcello or Andrew Miller, it was Chadd paying a premium price for talent when other teams were nervous about bonus demands. So, in one sense, the guy loves big pitchers. But, as he proved this year, the popularity isnt refined to hurlers, though he hasnt had an elite offensive prospect in the system since Cameron Maybin. Chadd believes that first rounders are a bargain at any price, therefore if he has to break a record to get forty-fourth overall pick Nick Castellanos signed for top five money, hell do it when the talent can there be. In '09, he didnt have a hitter in the first round that appealed like Castellanos, but the team went big dollars on sixth rounder Daniel Fields. And because of it, for the
Karl Klug Jersey first time since a time I cant remember, the Tigers have two must-follow offensive prospects. Trust that Chadd has the top-end pitchers, too, and also you see an organization healthy at the top. Generally speaking, I dont think Fields is given the credit like a top prospect, and maybe Im stepping on a ledge considering him in this manner. But ridiculously handed the job of playing in the Florida State League in his age 19 season, Fields put together a defensible .329 wOBA, highlighted with a 12.6% walk rate. As promised since his high school days, consistent contact was his bugaboo, with 31.7% of at-bats ending inside a whiff. The i sue being worse against left-handed pitchers, who induced 32 strikeouts in 73 at-bats. Naysayers will point to the high strikeout rate theyll also say his bad stolen base rate (8-for-17) signals an eventual change from center and will say that even when hes not hitting home runs yet, at least he ought to be hitting more doubles. While cynicism is a great tool in prospect evaluation, Im unsure how much it informs a 19-year-old making his profe sional debut inside a pitching-friendly environment. Im quite certain that Fields will either develop above-average power, or be a good thing in center field (depending on the maturation of his body). Should a development of muscle and slight reduction in speed leave him moving to right field, I believe hell be considered a positive defender there. And, lastly, while his strikeout rate needs to effect the way you project him to hit
David Bass Jersey for average going forward, he is the kind of player that profiles to publish good BABIPs. In 2010, probably the most likely scenario is that Fields stays in Lakeland, which is nice from a development standpoint: his ETA is unchanged since draft day, but hell be feeling in your own home given familiarity around Tigertown, Florida. You have to believe that every offseason is big for a player this raw, but even moreso for any kid which comes from the baseball family. While I think Fields true breakout might not come before the Eastern League in 2012, his talent, his potential, and his baseball intellect alllow for a thrilling combination. His current abilities project to about 3 WAR in the big leagues, but any development of power may take that north in a hurry. There just arent many minor leaguers that allow you to dream on 5 WAR seasons, and Fields is one. Nick Castellanos has given me a le ser track record a .371 wOBA in seven GCL games! to project him, but he draws the best praise. I learned a set of things this draft from seeing Castellanos on video, and seeing some i sues with his swing: 1) I'm not really a scout, 2) scouting short videos isnt good for credibility. There are few in the game that dont believe Castellanos will hit and hit away from the gate. His middle infield athleticism should play at the hot corner, and it all leads to the kind of resume that the cornerstone player po se
Michael Griffin Jersey ses. We have to see some regular playing time before stepping out on a ledge and projecting some kind of WAR number, but trust that the Tigers happen to be thinking in the top end of that scale. Given the high-end spending that David Chadd believes in, there appears to be a player like that in each and every draft for that Tigers. Before Castellanos took down an archive bonus, 2009 first pick Jacob Turner was the largest bonus baby in the organizations history. And given the chance to make his pro debut this year, we obtain an idea why. Turner was nothing short of spectacular in his debut, di seminate almost evenly between the Midwest and Florida
Terrance West Jersey State Leagues, where he posted FIPs of 2.83 and three.20, respectively. His BB/9 was sub-2 both in places, and Turners stuff was fantastic. He was good against left-handed hitters this season, talking with the advance in his change-up. While theres no questioning Turners great control, I must see better indications in the command. He's credited with po se sing great sink, but his groundball numbers dont support his reputation like they should. This really is likely a sign that he elevates the ball too often even though his velocity and movement still try to prevent home runs, they dont aid in enough groundballs. The foundation can there be for him to be one of the league leaders eventually; hes just not there yet. What isreally encouraging is the method in which Turner finished the season in Lakeland. In his final five starts, he pitched as many as 25.1 innings, and allowed just 13 hits, 4 walks, and 1 hit batsman to achieve base. Only two of those baserunners scored, just one which was earned. And for a guy whose strikeout numbers werent up to his stuff might suggest, he struck out 26 hitters in that stretch. Turners control may have him get to the big leagues quickly (for a high school pick), and his stuff allows him to achieve succe s there. No factors that are included in WAR (BB/9, K/9, HR/9) seem like trouble for Turner, and Im confident hell one day be one of the top 30 FIP pitchers in baseball profiling like a true ace. Its in those esteemed words that Andrew Oliver needs
Reshard Cliett Jersey to follow up, and Ill save the drama: hes no ace. Hes a darn good pitcher, and earns scouting points to be left-handed, especially because of the items that comes with it. Oliver averaged 93.8 mph on his fastball in 22 not-so-good big league innings, which hopefully whet Tigers fans appetites as opposed to the other way around. They were, however, given a glimpse in the weakne ses that Oliver must enhance: walk rate and home run rate. Against left-handed hitters, Oliver is really a beast. He allowed just one home run within the minor leagues to a lefty, versus 12 to right-handed hitters. His command is much better against them, too: just six walks allowed in 106 plate appearances at his Double-A stint. Against LHHs, Oliver has a lot more faith elevating his fastball and burying his slider than against right-handers, who rarely experience belt-high fastballs from lefties. His growth and development of his change-up, used just 7.9% of times in Detroit, is going to be key to his development there. But because his fastball command is questionable, and theres no reason to think the house run problem will go from weakne s to strength (just regre sing towards the mean a bit), Oliver currently profiles like a guy who'll look easier to scouts and perhaps within the ERA column than his FIP is ever going to suggest. Oliver is a mid-rotation guy by definition, so its nice that hell not be required for other things besides flanking Turner and Justin Verlander. Detroit Tigers Must-Follow Prospects (listed alphabetically): Nick Castellanos, Daniel Fields, Andy Oliver, Jacob Turner.
