Detroit Tigers Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Mar 4, 2006 12:38 PM EST in News Comment 28 comments

DETROIT TIGERS TOP 20 PROSPECTS

Justin Verlander, RHP, Grade A
Joel Zumaya, RHP, Grade B+
Cameron Maybin, OF, B
Brent Clevlen, OF, B
Jordan Tata, RHP, B-
Tony Giarratano, SS, C+
Jeff Larish, 1B, C+
Jeff Frazier, OF, C+
Kevin Whelan, RHP, C+
Clete Thomas, OF, C+
Michael Hollimon, SS, C+
Matt Joyce, OF, C+
Jair Jurrjens, RHP, C+
Eulogio De La Cruz, RHP, C+
P.J. Finigan, RHP, C+
Chris Robinson, C, C+
Wilkin Ramirez, 3B, C
Humberto Sanchez, RHP, C
Kody Kirkland, 3B, C
Dallas Trahern, RHP, C

I love Verlander. Zumaya also has an excellent arm, and if he can maintain a modicum of command he could also be an excellent pitcher. Maybin is a tools hound that we have to see against pro pitching. Clevlen took a major step forward last year after a poor '04 campaign.

This is another club with a mass of C+/C type prospects, who could turn into something interesting but have question marks of some sort. Whelen is a relief sleeper who you should watch closely. Thomas has good tools but his power needs to develop. Hollimon has tools and drew a lot of walks last year after turning pro, but was older than most of his peers in the New York-Penn League.

Grade C guys Wilkin Ramirez and Humberto Sanchez have very high ceilings. . .both could end up being Grade B guys if things pan out, but both have enough questions that I can't rate them highly at this point. Ramirez is young and athletic but has very poor strike zone judgment. Sanchez has a Grade B+ arm, but command and health are serious concerns.

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WOW

Verlander looks pretty ugly with that stache'.

Question: Why isn't Zumaya an A-? He has a grade A arm, and the command issues tone that down to an A-, but a B+? He dominated AA and AAA, is young, throws 100 mph, developed a very good changeup.. At the least (barring injury) he becomes a power reliever/closer like Hansen, and he got an A-...

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by ohad on Mar 4, 2006 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Other people have said

that Zumaya has a really violent motion, max effort. When you throw in the shaky control (lots of pitches), I'd be very surprised if he remains healthy for very long. Not rooting for the guy to get hurt, it just seems like a bad combination unless he can throttle one of those things down.

by Flynn Blake on Mar 4, 2006 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zumaya

I read several times this offseason that he had significantly toned down his delivery, which in turn had much more people sold on his ability to stay as a starter/avoid injury.

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by ohad on Mar 4, 2006 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

said, yes

watching him, he does not seem to have a violent motion. I'm not an expert on pitching mechanics, but I remember thinking he looked just like Clemens throughout.

by ian on Mar 4, 2006 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

That was why I attributed it to other people. I'm curious to see him pitch myself. Glad to hear that he's smoothed things out.

by Flynn Blake on Mar 4, 2006 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll have to reply to this, too...

Zumaya's delivery has supposedly been straightened out. I would love for him to remain as a starter. Having a successful Zumaya, the Tigers could have Verlander, Bonderman and Zumaya around for many years to come. And of course, Sleeth seems to be recovering well from TJ surgery. This season will tell a ton about the Tigers' future.

by TheCouga on Mar 7, 2006 3:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zumaya's success

A good part of his success this past year is actually due to his improved delivery.

I'm starting to wonder if they might actually open the year with Zumaya in the bullpen with the big league club after Percival's "almost" retirement, Dingman's major injury, and now Matt Mantei (the emergency guy) already hurt. An already somewhat thin Tiger bullpen just keeps getting thinner.

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 7, 2006 8:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And now Todd Jones is hurt...

Looks like you were right, though.

by TheCouga on Apr 2, 2006 6:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holding Out Hope

John, is there hope left for David Espinosa? Does he have any shot of earning a reserve outfielder's position at MLB level?

MelonvilleSports

by Melonville on Mar 4, 2006 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jeff Frazier

I think Jeff has as much potential as any offensive player in the Tigers system. He reminds me a bit of Jason Lane.

by gashousegang on Mar 4, 2006 1:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Frazier

I wouldn't go that far, but I think his ceiling similar to Clevlen. I think he is definitely one of the Tiger minor leaguers who is a major candidate for a breakout season and possibly be an all-star for Lakeland just like Clevlen was. As far as offensive ceilings go, Maybin blows them all away and it's not even close.

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 7, 2006 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you.

including Maybin when you say this?

by nms on Mar 8, 2006 12:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Larish

I seem to remember question marks around the draft about his ability to hit fastballs up and in. Is this still a concern?

by ian on Mar 4, 2006 1:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

RE: Larish

I would love to know this as well and we'll probably find out this year. He signed late, so there isn't a lot to go on for Larish, but he was dominant against younger pitching in his short time as a pro last year.

I'm guessing he'll be Lakeland's starting first baseman, at least to start the year. I really think he'll be in Erie before the year's done.

Man, I like Larish a lot. This team needs left handed power hitters, and Larish might just fit the bill. Hopefully he doesn't turn into another Eric Munson.

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 7, 2006 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Larish isn't like Munson

Munson was a pure pull hitter, while Larish pulls a lot of balls out he also has power and ability to go to the opposite field.

There is worry by some scouts that his stance will make it tough for him to handle the high heat. But that is something only time will tell.

He certainly is an exciting prospect.

by VtTigers on Mar 11, 2006 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Hooper

Hey Johm,

How happy were you to see Lawrence High School product Kevin Hooper get a chance last season? I coached against his legio team when I was 23 and have a ton of respect for the scrappy infielder. I was really happy to see him get his name in the baseball encyclopedia, I don't think he will make it back again.

by gashousegang on Mar 4, 2006 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Zumaya

Confident he'll stay as a starter

by CJ on Mar 4, 2006 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Looking good

A lot of talent, but few of these guys have played at AA level or above as of yet and a fair amount of them are 2005 draftees, and I'm assuming these are the reasons for the conservative grading. As a Tiger fan, I am currently very, very pleased with where we are versus just a couple of years ago.

What about Kyle Sleeth? Even with TJ surgery on his resume, I'd probably take him over several guys on this list.

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 4, 2006 7:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

sleeth

Sleeth is a grade c until we see how he recovers from TJ.

by John Sickels on Mar 4, 2006 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RE: Sleeth

Fair enough. He is a killer sleeper to have just off of this list though and probably a good sign that there is some decent depth to this system.

We might be looking at a big year for the Tigers' farm system if they don't mess it up.

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 5, 2006 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dombrowski

has turned things around, and this team will produce the way the Expos and Marlins did for him-- IF Illitch gives him a chance. I doubt if he will. The last year before I became baseball-aware (in 1989; if I stayed, it must be a great game...) was the last year the Tigers seriously contended for anything. I've long since stopped doubting that there's a connection.

by Vaux on Mar 5, 2006 6:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

RE: Dombrowski

I like the way 2005 looked for the farm system, but I want to see one more year out of it before I really start to get convinced that he has turned this thing around. Looking at the players we've got down there, I'm liking the chances.

Now it's hopefully time to get over the hump at the major league level as well...

by mcq fesijiba on Mar 5, 2006 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Prediction

I predict that Jair Jurrjens will be at least a "B" this time next year.

by tbac on Mar 5, 2006 4:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Justin Verlander vs. Jered Weaver

Both had stud college careers.
Both intimidating on the mound.

I still question Johns' grade on Weaver (B+) because he has no health issues. In my book, he's an A-.

by Shane Cobb on Mar 5, 2006 6:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not to sound trite

but there's a little more to pitching than having a college career and being tall and intimidating. By all accounts, Verlander's stuff looks significantly better than Weaver's. Now Weaver's pitchability may outweigh that in the long term, but to broadly lump the two together doesn't make a lot of sense. They're very different, and there is certainly reason, based even on results, to like Verlander. He absolutely dominated in the minors last season, while Weaver didn't, not even in High A.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 6, 2006 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs