Dynasty: Detroit Tigers’ 2020 Preseason Top 50 Prospects

After letting their core get older and older, the Detroit Tigers finally had to accept that a World Series wasn’t on the way and tore everything down to the bones. Unfortunately, the longer a team holds on to hope for glory, the uglier the rebuild tends to be—and this is a real ugly one.

The Tigers do have some reinforcements on the way, and while the system is flush with pitching talent, they could use more high-floor hitting to ease the minds of the fans that things will start looking up in the new decade.

Regardless, here’s a look at the team’s Top 50 prospects now that Detroit has dealt nearly all of the major league talent from the roster.

Note: These Top 50 lists are all done through a fantasy baseball-focused lens. Many players who are ranked higher or lower on other platforms will get a boost here. For example, players who profile as middle relievers or glove-first infielders likely won’t have much fantasy relevance, so they won’t be ranked as highly. 

 

1. RHP Casey Mize

 

Age: 22

Highest level: AA

So far, Mize has lived up to the lofty expectations often placed on first overall draft picks, making 15 starts at Double-A Erie last season with a 3.20 ERA (2.98 FIP) as well as a 1.11 WHIP and a 23.5% strikeout rate.

It wasn’t quite the pure dominance many had hoped for, but Mize has more than held his own in the minors, and he was pitching in Double-A as a 21-year-old. His polished approach, easy mechanics and excellent four-pitch mix, highlighted by a 60-grade slider and a 65-grade cutter, should make him a top-of-the-rotation ace in the near future.

Dynasty formats should have Mize as one of the top prospects off the board, even with the risk often associated with pitching prospects.

ETA: Late 2020

 

2. RHP Matt Manning

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: AA

If you had to guess which pitcher was the No. 1 overall pick based on numbers last year, most people would expect it was Manning, not Mize. A year younger despite being drafted two years prior, Manning dominated Double-A hitting while at Erie last season, posting a 2.56 ERA (2.53 FIP) with a 0.98 WHIP and a 28.1% strikeout rate—all which dwarf Mize’s production.

However, Mize has the more polished arsenal, making him more likely to reach true ace potential. That’s by no means a knock on Manning, whose size (6’6″) and 60-grade fastball/curveball should play extremely well as a future ace.

The Tigers farm system has gained ground in the hitting department, but it’s still dominated by pitching as evidenced by the top two here. These arms should be rotation stalwarts in the big leagues—and in fantasy leagues—for years.

ETA: 2021

 

3. OF Riley Greene

 

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

The fifth overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Greene breezed through rookie ball and short-season A-ball before hitting a slight speed bump at Single-A, which is expected from a 19-year-old.

A beautiful swing from the left side and emerging power make Greene a potentially elite hitter, with .300 averages and 35-home run seasons well within his capabilities. His glove will probably limit him to left field, which is a bummer, but there’s little reason to believe he won’t be a big-time contributor in the major leagues in due time.

ETA: 2022

 

4. 3B Isaac Paredes

 

Age: 20

Highest Level: AA

Paredes has done nothing but hit since he was acquired from the Cubs, along with Jeimer Candelario, for Justin Wilson, and Alex Avila. Paredes played a full season at Double-A last year, hitting .282 with 13 home runs and five stolen bases, with a stellar 10.3% walk rate and only a 11.1% strikeout rate.

His high-contact approach and burgeoning pull-side power should make him an above-average big league regular. While the move off shortstop to third base definitely hurts him from a fantasy perspective, it’s a better move for him value-wise and gives him a clear path to playing time in the Motor City, with Candelario expected to shift to first base in the near future.

ETA: Late 2020

 

5. LHP Tarik Skubal

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: AA

Probably my favorite prospect in all of baseball, Skubal was my dark-horse prediction to make a big rise last season, and I’m happy to say I got that one right. A ninth-round pick in 2018, Skubal dominated at every level last year, posting a video game-esque 179/37 K/BB ratio in 122.2 innings, split between High-A and Double-A.

He sports a very hard, heavy fastball with a plus changeup and fringe breaking balls, and if he can get even one of those offerings to become a plus pitch he has a comfortable projection as a big league No. 3, with potential to be a No. 2 as well.

There’s some relief risk here, as there is with almost any starting pitching prospect, but Skubal is still an arm dynasty owners will want to keep track of in the coming years.

ETA: Late 2020

 

6. OF Daz Cameron

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: AAA

It was a down season for Cameron in 2019, as he managed a .214/.330/.377 slash line in his first taste of Triple-A ball. He is still this high on the list thanks to his loud tools, which saw him belt 13 home runs and swipe 17 bases last year.

His strikeout issues are definitely concerning, just like they were for his dad—Mike Cameron—but Daz has shown better plate discipline recently, and an improved swing has allowed him to make more contact.

The power is still developing, but scouts think he’s a 15- to 20-home run guy in the big leagues, which should make him a 20-20 threat. Even with a poor batting average, that makes him a fantasy relevant prospect and one who could be in the major leagues as soon as 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

7. RHP Alex Faedo

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

I didn’t think I’d have Faedo this high, especially after he looked like a major disappointment in 2018.

However, he bounced back in a big way in 2019, with his velocity back in tow and his offspeed stuff showing major improvement. Faedo made 22 starts in Double-A with an impressive 134/25 K/BB ratio. His 3.90 ERA came with a much better 3.57 FIP, and Faedo is right back on track to be a very solid mid-rotation starter alongside Mize and Manning—although he has a good chance to debut as soon as 2020 if he pitches well out of the gate next season.

I’m usually down on pitching prospects, especially ones who have had velocity dips, but this system has a lot of strong arms, and Faedo has the potential to be a mainstay on Nick’s Top 100 list for multiple seasons if he can reach his potential.

ETA: 2020

 

8. OF Parker Meadows

 

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

Young, toolsy position players will almost always get the benefit of the doubt on my dynasty lists—especially since this list is to be used for fantasy purposes. Sure, Meadows carries a decent amount of risk as a 19-year-old who slashed .221/.296/.312 last year, but he did so at Single-A—a level he was exceptionally young for.

Plus, he managed seven home runs and 14 stolen bases, with a very nice 9.3% walk rate and a palatable 22.4% strikeout rate.

Meadows was the first pick of the second round in 2018, and while he probably won’t reach the ceiling of his brother—Austin Meadows—he is a prospect worth keeping an eye on. He’s a long ways away from the big leagues, but in deep dynasty leagues he needs to be rostered for his 20-20 potential as a true center fielder.

ETA: 2023

 

9. SS Willi Castro

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: MLB

Castro is a mere 20 plate appearances away from no longer being considered a prospect. While his 110 MLB plate appearances aren’t exactly jaw-dropping (.230/.284/.340), he did hit .301/.366/.467 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases in Triple-A last year.

Castro is a pure shortstop prospect who has the tools and defensive instincts to stick there long term. He projects as a potential 15-15 threat, and while he probably won’t translate that .300 batting average at Triple-A into a high average in the Show, he’s the kind of hitter who would maintain fantasy relevance in deeper leagues if he gets an everyday role—something he will compete for in the spring of 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

10. RHP Franklin Perez

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

Perez was the highes- profile prospect to change hands in the Justin Verlander trade, which also netted the Tigers Cameron and Jake Rogers. 

However, injuries have limited Perez to 27 innings in the last two seasons, which has seriously clouded his projections and rocketed him downward on all prospect lists.

Before we lose all hope, though, Perez is still just 21 years old, and his four-pitch mix is so strong that many scouting reports believe his FLOOR is as a mid-rotation starter. Obviously injuries have lowered his floor considerably, but if he can get healthy and stay healthy, he’s going to be a fantasy-relevant pitcher for a long time.

ETA: 2022

 

11. 3B Nick Quintana

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

Quintana is about as boom-or-bust of a prospect as you can get. Those of you who are more conservative when evaluating prospects in dynasty formats would probably have Quintana 10 or so spots lower than I do, thanks to his really high strikeout rate (31.5% in A-Ball).

However, Quintana’s raw power is unquestionable, and his status as a second-round pick makes him an appealing dynasty target for those willing to gamble that the power will show up.

Strikeout issues will likely always be a part of his game, but the potential for a 35-home run bopper from third base is tantalizing, and is why I have him ranked as high as I do. There’s no one below him I’d rather gamble on, even if the risk is high.

ETA: 2020

 

12. 2B Kody Clemens

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

While Clemens struggled mightily with a promotion to Double-A, his numbers in High-A were very solid with a .238/.314/.411 slash line along with 11 home runs, 11 stolen bases and a 9.3% walk rate.

Clemens will never hit for a high average, but he maximizes his tools enough that most scouts think he can hit around .260 or so with 20+ home run pop in the big leagues. His speed is decent, although expecting double-digit stolen bases in the Show is probably overly optimistic.

Still, as a sure-handed fielder there’s reason to believe Clemens can become a regular at the keystone, with enough pop to merit fantasy consideration in standard leagues down the line.

As a dynasty asset, he’s definitely worth a look in most formats.

ETA: 2021

 

13. OF Jose de la Cruz

 

Age: 17

Highest Level: R

There’s obviously an extremely wide range of outcomes for all prospects, but 17-year-olds with fewer than 300 plate appearances in rookie ball are nearly impossible to predict. However, de la Cruz definitely flashed some potential in his first season stateside, blasting 11 home runs with 16 stolen bases and a tidy .307/.375/.556 slash line.

His 29.6% strikeout rate is concerning, but any 17-year-old who has that blend of power and speed is worth a gamble, and there is definitely a reality where he becomes a future big league regular in the outfield in the Motor City.

ETA: 2025

 

14. C Jake Rogers

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: MLB

You basically cannot get any closer to not being a prospect anymore than Rogers, who has 128 major league plate appearances—two away from losing his prospect status.

Rogers is a classic example of a prospect who is likely going to be valued much higher on traditional prospect sites than on one like ours, which focuses on guys from a dynasty/fantasy perspective. Rogers is an elite defensive catcher, which should afford him the opportunity to be Detroit’s starting catcher as soon as Opening Day 2020.

However, his hitting will never be very good, as evidenced by his .125/.222/.259 slash line and 39.8% strikeout rate in the bigs last year.

The reason he’s even this high is his power potential. He did blast 18 home runs in fewer than 450 plate appearances between three levels last year, and a catcher who can hit 20+ home runs in the big leagues will always have some fantasy relevance.

He’ll obviously need to get the strikeouts down and hit higher than .125, but there’s an opportunity for a .220, 20-home run catcher here, which has value in dynasty formats and even redraft leagues if/when it comes to fruition.

ETA: 2020

 

15. LHP Joey Wentz

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: AA

The Tigers have a stable of elite right-handed pitching prospects, so they decided to balance things out by snagging left-hander Joey Wentz from the Braves in the Shane Greene trade this summer. Wentz didn’t have his strongest season at Double-A in Atlanta’s system, but he looked extremely sharp in five starts down the stretch with Double-A Erie, posting a 37/4 K/BB ratio in 25.2 innings.

Wentz has a ceiling as a mid-rotation starter, but he only really has three pitches and struggles with command at times, which makes him a bit of a bullpen risk. If he can sharpen his curveball and his command, expect him to be a quality rotation piece as soon as 2021.

ETA: 2021

 

16. OF Jacob Robson

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AAA

Robson’s profile screams above-average fourth outfielder to me, but he did have a nice season in Triple-A last year, slashing .267/.352/.399 with nine home runs and 25 stolen bases, numbers that would make him fantasy relevant in deeper leagues and certainly should put him on the dynasty radar.

Robson has already racked up nearly 700 plate appearances at Triple-A, so expect him to make his big league debut sometime in 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

17. SS Adinso Reyes

 

Age: 17

Highest Level: R

I’m probably higher on guys like this than other dynasty formats, but it definitely depends on your philosophy. If you like high-risk, high-reward options, Reyes is your guy. The guy below, Beau Burrows, is a classic low-risk, medium-reward type player, so I suppose it’s time to pick your poison.

I would take Reyes if given the choice, even though he’s only 17 years old and only has 269 plate appearances at rookie ball as data to go off of. He did hit .331/.379/.508 with seven home runs and three steals, however, and he was considered one of MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospects last year, so he comes with some pedigree.

ETA: 2024

 

18. RHP Beau Burrows

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AAA

The Tigers have a lengthy list of solid right-handed pitching prospects, and while Burrows is not atop the list, I do believe he will be the first to reach the big leagues, after spending most of 2019 at Triple-A.

The reason he’s down here is his performance at Triple-A wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring, with a 5.51 ERA (5.84 FIP) and an ugly 4.41 BB/9. Burrows has been better than that in the past, and the fact that he has three plus pitches (fastball, slider, changeup) should make him a decent back-end-of-the-rotation starter as his floor, with a slightly higher ceiling as a No. 3.

Nothing wrong with taking a relatively safe player like Burrows, although last year’s lack of command is certainly concerning.

ETA: 2020

 

19. OF Troy Stokes Jr.

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AAA

Stokes is one of those prospects who just continues to pile up counting numbers, making him an appealing dynasty target. He had 20 home runs and 30 steals in 2017 followed by 19 home runs and 19 steals in 2018. 2019 saw him hit nine home runs and swipe 14 bags in under 400 plate appearances, so it’s safe to say his full season numbers would have been similar once again.

His size (5’8″, 182 lbs) and lack of plate discipline are concerns, however, making him likely a platoon bat at best in the major leagues. That’s a bummer considering his power-speed combo would make him an appealing fantasy asset, and his defense is exceptional and could make him an overall very valuable player.

ETA: 2020

 

20. 3B Andre Lipcius

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: A

Lipcius had a nice power surge in his final season at Tennessee, blasting 16 home runs, which matched his total through his first two seasons. The Tigers like enough of what they saw to snag him in the third round, and he responded with a nice campaign at Single-A down the stretch.

Lipcius has nice plate discipline and was able to add power without sacrificing his walk and strikeout numbers, which bodes well for him. He’s extremely slow, which will limit him to a corner infield spot and means he won’t be stealing any bases, but the power and contact are enough to make him a dynasty target worth keeping an eye on.

ETA: 2023

 

21. SS Wenceel Perez

 

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

Perez was an unheralded international signing who burst onto the scene with a strong 2018 campaign that saw him rise three levels. He took a step back at the plate in 2019, slashing just .233/.299/.314 in Single-A, but as a 19-year-old, some regression at the plate is OK against much older competition. He’s a plus-plus fielder who swiped 21 bases last year with his excellent speed, and his ability to control the zone from both sides of the plate has a lot of scouts believing he can hit for a high average.

The floor is a glove-only infielder, while the ceiling is a high-average shortstop who can steal 15-20 bases. He’s got decent risk, but not a terrible flier in deeper dynasty leagues.

ETA: 2024

 

22. RHP Paul Richan

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

Richan, a second-round pick in 2018, was the prize return from the Cubs in the Nicholas Castellanos trade. He had a very nice season at High-A with Chicago, going 10-5 with a 3.97 ERA (3.51 FIP) and an 86/18 K/BB ratio.

He has advanced feel and pitchability, but his stuff is pretty average, which likely limits him to a back-end starter. However, that’s a likely floor for Richan, and one he could accomplish soon as a quick-to-the-bigs-type prospect.

ETA: 2021

 

23. OF Roberto Campos

 

Age: 16

Highest Level: N/A

You feeling lucky? The Tigers basically shielded Campos from all scouts and other teams as a 13-year-old, waited for him to turn 16, and then blew half their international signing budget to ink him for $2.85 million.

So we don’t know much, but what we do know is he’s 6’3″, 200 pounds, has pop from the right side and will likely play corner outfield.

We also know the Tigers liked him enough to spend big money on him while preventing other teams from seeing him, so there’s probably something here. If you are in a very deep dynasty league and are patient, Campos could develop into a star for you.

ETA: 2025

 

24. OF Bryant Packard

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: A+

The Tigers went position player heavy in the early rounds of the 2019 MLB draft, snagging Packard, an outfielder, in the fifth round. Packard, like Lipcius, has projectable raw power and nice plate discipline, making him a potential .280 hitter with around 20 home runs.

He had that on display by hitting .309 in 23 games with Single-A after getting drafted, and although he’s still a ways away from contributing to the big league club, he’s a prospect worth stashing in dynasty formats.

ETA: 2022

 

25. OF Derek Hill

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

It’s hard for me to believe Hill is only 23. A first-round pick way back in 2014, Hill has suffered multiple injuries that have dramatically slowed his progress. However, he was healthy last year and blasted a career-high 14 home runs along with 21 stolen bases in Double-A.

Hill’s defense is already big league ready, and his speed could make him a potential fourth outfielder who can swipe some bases. His newfound power is interesting as well, and makes him worth a dart throw in deeper dynasty leagues.

ETA: 2021

 

26. RHP Elvin Rodriguez

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

Rodriguez has emerged as a quality starting pitching prospect after coming over as the player to be named later in the Justin Upton trade. Rodriguez has solid command, but his lack of velocity and lack of a true out pitch limits his ceiling to a back-end starter—with the potential to be a bullpen arm a strong possibility.

ETA: 2022

 

27. OF Jose Azocar

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

Azocar has nice tools, as evidenced by 10 home runs and 10 steals in Double-A last year, but his complete lack of patience at the plate will hamper his future value. He is known to be working on his patience in the Fall League, however, and if he can develop some plate discipline and tap into some of his power, he has the potential to be an everyday outfielder with 20-10 type numbers.

ETA: 2022

 

28. C Eliezer Alfonzo

 

Age: 20

Highest Level: A-

Alfonzo has virtually no power to speak of, but he’s walked more than he’s struck out at most of his minor league stops, and he slashed a very tidy .318/.342/.374 in short-season ball last year as a 20-year-old.

Could he be the next Willians Astudillo? Too early to tell, but a catcher with that kind of patience and a high batting average definitely merits fantasy consideration in dynasty leagues.

ETA: 2023

 

29. RHP Anthony Castro

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AA

Castro has been in Detroit’s system since 2011, but he’s still just 24 and had a nice season as a hybrid starter/reliever last year in Double-A. Castro is almost certainly going to transition to the bullpen, which kills his fantasy value, although his nearly 100 mph fastball and elite slider could make him a late-inning weapon—and he could be up at some point in 2020.

ETA: 2020

30. RHP Rony Garcia

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: AA

The Tigers made Garcia the first pick in the Rule 5 Draft, and considering their bullpen situation it’s almost a near certainty he will spend the entire year with the Tigers. How you value him in dynasty depends if you believe the team will try to keep him as a starter or convert him into a bullpen piece.

A nice slider and plus spin on his fastball make him tough on righties, but he has struggled against left-handers up to this point and could end up a solid two-pitch reliever – a nice grab for the Tigers but a not great fantasy asset. Keep an eye on him for now, but unless he’s starting he’s probably not much of a dynasty asset.

ETA: 2020

31. OF Danny Woodrow

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AAA

A 12th-round pick back in 2016, Woodrow has one thing going for him that could get him to the big leagues and make him fantasy relevant: speed.

Woodrow swiped 23 bases in Triple-A last year, while also slashing a respectable .274/.349/.340. He has no power to speak of and average plate discipline, so the only real reason to give him a chance is if you need stolen bases in deep dynasty leagues and want to take a chance on a guy who could be a big league fourth outfielder as soon as 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

32. SS Sergio Alcantara

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: AA

Similar to Rogers, Alcantara is a prospect that will be ranked higher on lists that aren’t fantasy-focused. A glove-first shortstop, Alcantara shows good enough defense to start now—but the bat just isn’t there. He’s a switch-hitter who posted a really nice 12.7% walk rate in 2019 in Double-A, but a .247 average and two home runs just won’t cut it.

If Alcantara makes the big leagues, it will likely be as a glove-first super-utility player, giving him a fairly safe floor but no ceiling. Not a prospect I want to chase in most formats.

ETA: Late 2020

 

33. RHP Wilkel Hernandez

 

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

A young, unheralded right-hander when the Tigers acquired him in the Ian Kinsler trade a few years back, Hernandez has developed into a very intriguing arm with the size (6’3″, 195 lbs), frame and stuff to potentially be a No. 5 starter.

At Single-A this past season Hernandez had a 3.73 ERA (3.26 FIP) with a 7.99 K/9 and a 2.31 BB/9.

The lack of strikeout stuff curbs his value, but he’s a name worth monitoring in deeper dynasty formats.

ETA: 2023

 

34. C Sam McMillan

 

Age: 20

Highest Level: A

The Tigers snagged McMillan in the fifth round back in 2017, and while he hasn’t hit much in the minors so far, he’s still just 20 years old. He also posted an excellent 16.8(!) percent walk rate in 280 plate appearances last season in Single-A, albeit with just two home runs.

His lack of power will prevent him from being a fantasy star, but there’s potential for McMillan to be a high-OBP backup catcher.

ETA: 2023

 

35. OF Kingston Liniak

 

Age: 19

Highest Level: A

A toolsy high school outfielder the Tigers used a fourth-round pick on in 2018, Liniak had a really rough go of things in his first full minor league season. At short-season A-ball, he slashed just .205/.284/.270 with one home run, 13 RBI and six stolen bases.

He struck out 27.0% of the time and went 1-for-21 in a brief cameo at Single-A, sot it’s safe to say it was a forgettable year for the 19-year-old. He’s still young, though, and has the potential to develop into a 30-stolen base threat if everything comes together. He’s as high-risk, high-reward as you can get in dynasty leagues.

ETA: 2023

 

36. SS Ryan Kreidler

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: A-

The Tigers’ fourth-rounder in 2019 was former UCLA shortstop Kreidler. He didn’t look great at the plate in his first taste of pro ball, slashing just .232/.307/.351 with two home runs and nine steals in 257 plate appearances.

Considered a glove-first prospect out of the draft, Kreidler likely won’t be a fantasy-relevant asset, even if he makes the big leagues.

ETA: 2023

 

37. RHP Kyle Funkhouser

 

Age: 25

Highest Level: AAA

Funkhouser was drafted in the first round after his junior year at Louisville, but he returned to school, had a rough year, and fell to the Tigers in the fourth round the following year. When he’s at his best, Funkhouser has stuff that plays up as a potential No. 4 or 5 starter. However, injury issues and a disastrous 2019 season (8.53 ERA in 63.1 innings at Triple-A) have seriously dampened his stock.

If he’s healthy, he’ll probably get a chance with the Tigers in 2020, likely as a sixth starter or long reliever.

ETA: Late 2020

 

38. OF Brock Deatherage

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: A+

Deatherage was a 10th-round pick in 2018, but he had a monstrous first professional season to put himself on the prospect radar.

His 2019 was not nearly as strong, with an ugly .228/.270/.357 line and a 27.7% strikeout rate in High-A. However, he did swipe 45 bases with seven home runs, so there’s definitely some potential as a speedy fourth outfielder down the line.

ETA: 2022

39. C Jhon Nunez

 

Age: 25

Highest Level: AA

The Tigers flipped left-hander Matt Hall to the Red Sox in exchange for yet another catching prospect, Jhon Nunez. It’s no surprise the Tigers are hoarding catchers, with a lot of uncertainty in their future behind the dish. Nunez threw out 42 percent of would-be base stealers in AA last year, while also making the Eastern League All-Star game and slashing .280/.353/.412.

Nunez doesn’t offer much in the power or speed department, but he makes a lot of contact and could be a decent average backup or low-end starter in the not-too-distant future.

ETA: 2021

40. RHP Bryan Garcia

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: MLB

Garcia was a sixth-round pick by the Tigers in 2016, selected with the potential to be a quick-to-the-big leagues reliever. That was derailed by Tommy John surgery, although he returned in time to pitch in the bullpen at Triple-A and six innings in the big leagues.

Garcia’s fastball/slider combination is appealing enough to potentially make him a late-inning weapon, so he’s worth a look in deeper dynasty formats.

ETA: 2020

 

41. RHP Ethan DeCaster

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AAA

DeCaster won’t show up on many (any) other prospect lists, but the 2018 18th-rounder out of Duke has done nothing but get guys out since he went pro. He made it all the way to Triple-A last year, and finished with a 71/15 K/BB ratio as well as a 2.70 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.

DeCaster is a sidearmer with fringy secondaries, so he’s likely nothing more than a middle reliever, but as long as he keeps getting guys out, he’ll carve out a nice career.

ETA: 2020

 

42. RHP Hugh Smith

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: A

Hugh Smith is an absolutely imposing 6’10” figure who had some success in his first taste of pro ball in 2019. He made 10 starts at Single-A, posting a 3.63 ERA (3.40 FIP) with a 1.25 WHIP and a 9.07 K/9.

The 2018 sixth-round pick has the stuff to be a back-end starter if everything falls into place.

ETA: 2022

 

43. RHP Alex Lange

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AA

Lange starred on the bump at Louisiana State, and was a first round pick by the Cubs in 2017. However, inconsistency in his delivery has lead to him struggling as a starter, and now that he’s with the Tigers he’s been transitioned to a bullpen piece.

Lange has the stuff to excel in a late-inning role, but for now he looks like a middle reliever—which has little value in fantasy.

ETA: 2021

 

44. OF Ulrich Bojarski

 

Age: 21

Highest Level: A+

Not only does he have an epic name,  Bojarski also had a nice season at Single-A last year—recording 10 dingers, six steals and a .271/.304/.409 slash line. He doesn’t profile as anything more than a fourth outfielder, and his plate-discipline numbers are pretty meh, but there could be something here.

ETA: 2022

 

45. SS Cole Peterson

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AAA

Peterson has been pretty far off the prospect radar ever since the Tigers made him a 13th-round pick in 2017. However, he had a nice 2019 campaign, slashing .284/.333/.345 with 23 steals and an excellent 8.5% strikeout rate at High-A.

His numbers got worse at Double-A, but his speed and defense could make him a utility infielder—a spot he might even compete for at some point in 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

46. LHP Adam Wolf

 

Age: 22

Highest Level: A

The Tigers made Wolf, a 6’6″ left-hander out of Louisville, a fifth-round pick in 2018. He looked solid in 2018 but struggled in A-Ball in 2019, posting a 6.23 ERA along with a 8.08 K/9, and a much more palatable 3.55 FIP.

He projects as a sixth starter/swingman type, but could turn into more if his secondaries develop.

ETA: 2022

 

47. OF Reece Hampton

 

Age: 23

Highest Level: A+

Hampton is a speedy, switch-hitting outfielder the Tigers snagged in the 12th round of the 2018 draft. He hit well in Single-A last year, and while he struggled in High-A, his speed (12 SB) and high-contact approach could make him a quality fourth outfielder down the line—even if he has little power to speak of.

ETA: 2022

 

48. RHP Logan Shore

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AA

Shore profiles as a swingman/sixth starter with a meh fastball and a plus changeup. I think he’ll probably end up a bullpen piece long term, and even if he sticks in the rotation, his lack of strikeout numbers make him a fairly unappealing fantasy target.

ETA: 2021

 

49. RHP Nolan Blackwood

 

Age: 24

Highest Level: AAA

Blackwood came to the Tigers in the same trade that netted them Shore, in exchange for veteran Mike Fiers. Blackwood is a sidearm reliever with middling strikeout numbers—but his 1.76 ERA in Double-A makes him at least an arm worth monitoring.

ETA: 2020

 

50. RHP John Schreiber

 

Age: 25

Highest Level: MLB

Schreiber’s first taste of the major leagues did not go well, as he had a 6.23 ERA in 13 innings. However, he also had an excellent 19/4 K/BB ratio and a 3.03 SIERA, so there’s potential for him to be a contributor in the late innings as soon as 2020.

ETA: 2020

 

51. RHP Sandy Baez

 

Age: 25

Highest Level: MLB

Statistically, Baez doesn’t really look like he deserves a spot on this list. However, he has a 70-grade fastball, and if he ever learns how to control it, his triple-digit heater and slider combo could make him a late-inning stud. At 25, he’s running out of time.

ETA: 2020

 

Others given consideration: 1B Rey Rivera, RHP Wladimir Pinto, RHP Zac Houston, C Cooper Johnson, RHP Zack Hess, LHP Jack O’Loughlin, OF Esney Chacon, 3B Pedro Martinez, Jr., 1B Nick Ames, SS Alvaro Gonzalez, RHP Shao-Ching Chiang

(Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire)