2007 Detroit Tigers Prospects

1. Cameron Maybin, OF, Grade A- (outstanding overall prospect, just needs to cut strikeouts)
   
2. Andrew Miller, LHP, Grade A- (throws hard, usually throws strikes, extreme ground ball pitcher)
   
3. Eulogio De La Cruz, RHP, B- (can hit 100 MPH but still learning how to pitch)
   
4. Jair Jurrjens, RHP, B- (Good arm but will need additional time)
   
5. Gorkys Hernandez, OF, B- (very toolsy, young, strong GCL numbers)
   
6. Jeff Larish, 1B, B- (plenty of power and patience, but is his swing too long?)
   
7. Scott Sizemore, 2B, B- (should hit for average at all levels)
   
8. Brent Clevlen, OF, C+ (which is the real Clevlen? I don't know)
   
9. Jordan Tata, RHP, C+  (Should be an average pitcher in any role)
   
10. Dallas Trahern, RHP, C+ (Good power sinker, low strikeout rate a concern)
    
11. Jonah Nickerson, RHP, C+ (polished college star lacks plus stuff)
    
12. Mike Holliman, SS, C+ (outstanding secondary skills but was old for the level)
    
13. Brennan Boesch, OF, C+ (promising college hitter from '06 draft)
    
14. Ronnie Bourquin, 3B, C+ (promising college hitter from '06 draft)
    
15. Tony Giarratano, SS, C (looks like he'll be a utility guy, health an issue)
    
16. Brett Jensen, RHP, C (throws strikes, projects as middle man)
    
17. Brendan Wise, RHP, C (another ground ball pitcher, a possible sleeper)
    
18. Matt Joyce, OF, C (A-ball performance was disappointing)
    
19. Chris Cody, LHP, C  (doesn't throw hard, good command)
    
20. Virgil Vasquez, RHP, C  (doesn't throw hard, good command)

The Tigers in One Sentence: This system has two outstanding prospects at the top, but it falls apart quickly after that, depleted by the graduations of Verlander, Zumaya, and Granderson over the last two years.

Not much depth here at all. Tigers hitting prospects have a tendency to strike out a lot. They also have a lot of ground ball pitchers. There are some interesting guys in the '06 draft class, but we need a year to see how they pan out. Once again, the Grade C guys are all interchangeable, so don't get upset if your favorite one is in the "Others of Note" section rather than in the top 20. There is not much difference between the Grade C guys.

ALL GRADES ARE PRELIMINARY. If you hate a grade, feel free to make a case for me to change it, though remember that cases phrased respectfully using logic and facts are more likely to be viewed positively than those featuring insults and invective.

There is a lot of slack in the B-/C+/C range and players may move up and down depending on how my thinking progresses. Feel free to make comments, point out sleepers I may have missed, etc. Note that there is only a limited amount of space in the book, and the max I can do is 35-36 players per team.

And, as always, there is the helpful reminder to Buy My Book, which will lay out reports for all these guys (and more) in detail.