Tag: Detroit Tigers

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Detroit Tigers: draft prospect Nick Madrigal

The Detroit Tigers, minor leagues are full of top pitching prospects. For the Tigers, to speed the rebuild up they should look no further than University of Oregon State 2B Nick Madrigal.

He stands just 5′ 7″ but don’t let that fool you. Madrigal, is a very good player. Much in the same vein as Houston Astros star 2B Jose Altuve who is also 5′ 7″. Nick Madrigal is almost a Altuve clone.

Above average in the field and with a bat. Nick, will most likely not make it out of the top 5 draft picks in the 2018 MLB draft. He hits to all fields with some pop in his bat.

His glove work is so good he can be penciled in as a future Gold Glove winner. If the Detroit Tigers do draft Nick Madrigal, then the future of the team has a good core of players to begin competitive baseball at Comerica Park.

Madrigal, draws a lot of walks in part because of his size and in part because he is so disciplined at the plate. He is very fast and can steal bases. This is exactly the type of player Detroit, needs to draft and develop.

He would be an outstanding addition to the Detroit Tigers. Mostly because he will not be there long after the team picks first in the draft.

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Detroit Tigers: prospect profile Christian Stewart

Embed from Getty Images When the Washington Nationals, signed Detroit Tigers free agent pitcher Max Scherzer, in 2015 it gave the Tigers a compensation draft pick. They used that draft pick on University of Tennessee’s Christian Stewart.

He can hit. That is not a problem. He is in baseball terms “a thumper.” Stewart, has plus raw power. He can hit the snot out of the ball. Not only for power but for average.

He will remind Detroit fans of Adam Dunn. Only unlike Dunn, Stewart has a good batting average. If Christian Stewart hits 30+ home runs and knocks in 80+ R.B.I.’s Tigers fans will be pleased.

There is a hold up though. For all he can do with a bat in his hands. He is woeful in the outfield. He is well below average in arm, glove and speed. At 6′ 0″ Stewart is too short to be considered for first base.

That leaves the Detroit Tigers using a draft pick to get a designated hitter (D.H.) I don’t want to whine or complain. They team drafted a very good hitter. Although he is one dimensional. His bat will be welcomed in the Detroit Tigers, rebuild.

The team may be forced to using Stewart, in the field when the team plays National League teams.

That said Christian Stewart, is a prospect I like. A lot. He will be a good fit in Comerica Park. Playing this season in Toledo with the Mud Hens. Christian, should get a September call up when the rosters are expanded.

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Detroit Tigers: Matt Harvey should not be an option

Embed from Getty Images The rebuilding Detroit Tigers, need to stay focused. As I have stated in the past no quick band-aids should be applied.  Yesterday the New York Mets ,designated Harvey for assignment. He refused and is now a free agent. Detroit should not employ him.

Only a few years ago Matt Harvey was on top of the world. Almost winning the 2013 NL Cy Young award then in 2014 Harvey, missed the whole season and had  Tommy John surgery. He has failed to bounce back.

This season has been rough so far for the former budding ace. When the New York Mets, asked Matt to move to the bullpen he refused. Forcing the Mets, to cut ties with him.

Unless Matt Harvey, is willing to reinvent himself in the bullpen like John Smoltz did years ago. He may have a hard time finding a job. No matter his decorated past. Teams look at the now.

A former shell of his former self is the biggest reason the Detroit Tigers should stay far away. This season and most of next will be throw aways in Motown anyway.

It sure does not look like Harvey, has anything left in the tank. Early word is the New York Yankees have no interest in him. Not that they dictate what other teams do. But, if the Yankees had interest so would other teams.

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Detroit Tigers: draft prospect profile Casey Mize

Embed from Getty Images The 2018 MLB draft is five weeks away. The Detroit Tigers, holding the first pick in the draft could do worse than Auburn University’s, Casey Mize.

Not sure where to even start in about Mize. He has simply dominated the SEC. MLB pipeline has Casey, listed as the number one draft prospect . 

Casey Mize, is a four pitch machine. His fastball in the mid 90’s, his split finger fastball (his absolute best pitch) hits the high 80’s. Along with a cutter and a curve/slider combo much like the one current Detroit Tigers Alex Faedo ,throws.

He may have some arm issues due to his mechanics. Nothing that can not be corrected. Certainly nothing that will keep him from being a staff ace. He is that good.

The Detroit Tigers, should waste little time call Casey Mize’s name draft day evening. He is very polished and will need very little minor league seasoning. The Detroit, pitching staff has the makings of being nasty when the dust from the rebuild settles.

The best news is Casey Mize could go directly to Detroit, after the draft. That is how advanced he is.

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Detroit Tigers: prospect profile Dawel Lugo

Embed from Getty Images He came to the Detroit Tigers, minor league system from Arizona when Detroit shipped slugging outfielder J.D. Martinez, to the Diamond Backs. Dawel Lugo has surpassed his prospect scouting.

Dawel, was projected and still may end up being a utility player for the Tigers. He is an above average fielder at both 3B and 2B. What has caught the Detroit Tigers eye so for this young baseball season is Dawel Lugo, is hitting.

Lugo, is playing in Toledo with the Mud hens. He is hitting .296 and leads the Hens, in doubles and has knocked in 10 runs. His glove was never an issue.

He faces tough competition trying to crash the Detroit Tigers, infield once the rebuild is done. With Kody Eaves, who also plays both 2B and 3B. In my opinion Eaves, is the 2B of the future.

Dawel Luso, does have value in that he can be a late inning substitution in the field or a nice bat off the bench. No matter how the Tigers, choose to use Dawel, he can help them.

Detroit Tigers, fans can be somewhat happy the Detroit, scouting department seems to have found a real gem in Dawel Lugo. Even if he is a role player.

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Detroit Tigers: when should a prospect be called up

Embed from Getty Images With many of the organization’s top prospects thriving in the minor leagues. Detroit Tiger, fans are wondering when they will be called up.

A prospect is inserted because they can help the parent team. Or they are ready. A prospect should never be called up if a team is struggling. There is a bigger picture to take into consideration.

Players need to develop. There is so much for them to learn. Rushing a prospect can spell disaster for the player and set the team back further. Because Detroit is in a rebuild and will not contend for a few seasons it is best to let the kids play and grow.

Certainly, a player or pitcher can get a spot start here or there. That is nothing more than to see how far they have come and what work still needs to be put in.

My advice is to enjoy the Detroit Tigers and the minor league teams this season. Do not wish the season away. The process is long the reward is great. That needs to be the focus.

No band aids to help a struggling team. That solves nothing. I do not remember a struggling team call up a player and then go on a winning streak.

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Detroit Tigers: what is fueling this team

Embed from Getty Images Picked to be one if not the worst teams in baseball the Detroit Tigers are not allowing forecasters dictate team success and or failure.

Two times this past week the Detroit tigers, put 10 or more runs on the scoreboard. But that is impossible! They were picked to be awful. It seems Ron Gardenhire’s players did not get the memo. Or they ripped it up and threw it away.

The Tigers while not a top team do have something major going for them. The 2018 Detroit Tigers are balanced. from number one to number nine in the batting order. That is extremely rare for rebuilding teams. Will it last all season? Probably not.

But, it is not going as so call experts said it would. They painted doom and gloom in Motown. Meanwhile, the Detroit minor league top prospects are all shining. They are living up to their draft billing, something else that is rare.

Tiger, scouts have done a very good job at drafting. If Christian Stewart can cut down on his strikeouts he is absolutely a guy who can lead the Detroit next wave of good teams.

The minor league pitching has been spot on the early part of this season capped of Friday night when the Tigers number two top prospect Matt Manning struck out 10 of the 12 batters he faced in Grand Rapids. Oh by the way that was his first start coming off a spring training injury and on a strict 70 pitch, pitch count.

It won’t be long before these players are strutting their stuff at Comerica Park.

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Detroit Tigers: they are actually watchable

Embed from Getty Images They were supposed to be bad. Really bad. While they are two games below .500 the Detroit Tigers, in the first full year of a rebuild has refused to roll over and play dead.

They are by no means a great team. They may not even be a good team. But manager Ron  Gardenhire, has Detroit playing well. Yes they got swept in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. But they were in those games.

For a team full of rookies and only a few veterans that is remarkable. It is also why Gardenhire, was brought in. Tigers fans, are being treated to a much kinder rebuild than what is going on in places like Cincinnati.

How can fans not enjoy watching young Detroit Tigers third basemen Jeimer Candelario ( who as of today is hitting .284 and leads the team in doubles and is a slick fielder? Or pitcher Matthew Boyd who despite being 0-1 has a 1.40 era?

Second basemen Dixon Machado, is another player worth watching. I’m not sure he fits into the Tigers, long range plans so he could become a valuable trade asset closer to the MLB trade deadline.

Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos has contiuned his hot bat from last season and is drawing more walks in this early 2018 Detroit Tigers, baseball season. If general manager Al Avila is unable to sign Castellanos to a long term deal. He could be traded and bring in a nice haul of prospects.

For a team that was left for dead before the season even kicked off. This team is actually fun to watch. It is certainly making the rebuild process a bit easier to handle.

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Detroit Tigers: prospect profile Kyle Funkhouser

Embed from Getty Images Other than having the best last name in the Detroit tigers, minor league system. Kyle Funkhouser. This guy can bring it. At 6′ 2″ he is actuall one of the Tigers shorter pitching propects.

Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2016.  Funkhouser, has blown through rookie ball and High A ball.  Kyle , fastball touches 98 mph. He has worked on his changeup and it is now a go to pitch for him. He also throws a, above average slider.

The thing the Detroit Tigers, were waiting for was his to gain more command of the strike zone. He has done that. One thing that gets him in trouble is he’ll fall in love with a pitch and then his other pitches suffer.

Kyle Funkhouser,  has started this season in Erie PA, with the Seawolves. Many scouts think he can be an outstanding No. 3 starter. He is one reason the Tigers pitching has a bright future.

In just a few seasons the Motor City Kitties, will have a nasty starting rotation. Should he have a monster season in Double A he could see time in Motown next season.

In my opinion, Detroit should allow all of the pitching prospects a full year in Double A. Development is critical for pitchers more than position players. It will be worth the wait. General manager Al Avila, knows this is at least a three year rebuild. No need to rush things.

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Detroit Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Tigers, played him at third base. He was well blow average to the point of being downright bad. Now moved to right field he seems to be settling in. On thing is for sure Nick Castellanos can hit.

 

Castellanos, enjoyed a breakout season at the plate last season.  His 26 home runs amd 101 RBI’s were career highs. The question was never really about hitting for Nick. It was where would he play?

His failure at third base was hardly all his fault. Coaches failed as well. Now in right field he seems more comfortable. This could lead to even better numbers when he has a bat in his hands.

Nick Castellanos, stands 6′ 4″ and is only 26 years old so there is room for improvement. The Detroit Tigers, would be wise to lock him up to a long term contract as his bat could help lead the rebuild charge.

With his bat and the likes of Isaac Paredes, Jeimer Canelario, and Christian Stewart in the next few seasons the Motor City Kitties will have a nasty middle part of the batting order.

Castellanos, can help mentor the younger players once they are called up. So he has very good value.