Detroit Tigers Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Dec 20, 2025 12:00 PM EST

I am now working on the Cincinnati Reds. The next team is the Detroit Tigers, to be followed by the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres.

Use this thread to discuss the Tigers farm system, as usual pointing out sleepers or prospects you feel are overlooked.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

bad system

Outside of Turner and Crosby, I don’t know what you’re going to do. Just lump all their pitchers into C+ guys destined to maybe be average relivers? Maybe Ruffin a future closer, a long time from now?

Kinda interested to see where Ruffin and Castellanos fall. But other than that, this system is not good. And I’m not hating on the Tigers, it’s my favorite team, but when your top young hitters are Daniel Worth and Wilkin Ramirez…things can get dark real quick.

I like Scott Green, even though he didn’t play much last year…but his numbers looked good in 2009.

Bring on the Boston list!

by Aslan on Dec 20, 2025 12:25 PM EST reply actions

castellanos

Guessing he’s No. 2 in the system, Grade B. Better prospect than Josh Sale, but not enough data to go for B+.

by mrkupe on Dec 20, 2025 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by mdotmorris22 on Dec 21, 2025 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

Although I can see a borderline B+ for Castellanos

by mdotmorris22 on Dec 21, 2025 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Anybody heard anything new on Crosby?

Dan Fields has high impact ability, and he showed some grit holding his own in the FSL this year

If everybody likes you, then either no one knows anything about you, or you're dead.

Fantasy Prospect Central: http://fantasyprospectcentral.blogspot.com/

by Archie A on Dec 20, 2025 12:41 PM EST reply actions

+1

On Fields - really young at both stops he’s made so far, had a good BB rate in the FSL, and seems to have made the transition to CF.

by dbreer23 on Dec 20, 2025 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

Crosby is a complete mystery to me

Let’s hope the bone bruise has finally healed by the time spring rolls around.

http://bullpenbanter.com/

by jar75 on Dec 20, 2025 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

says a lot about this system

Turner should be first in the system, Castellanos at No. 2 with Grade B, and then Andy Oliver at Grade B. I guess Fields would probably be 4th in the system at Grade B-, although I’m very skeptical of him.

by mrkupe on Dec 21, 2025 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

Younger prospects

John, any thoughts on Javier Azcona and Danry Vazquez?
Last I heard they were moving Azcona off of shortstop with the thought he would outgrow the position.
and Vazquez he has a good bat at a young age, but needs time to get better reads/routes on fly balls.
Anything you can add will be appreciated.

by KalineCountry on Dec 20, 2025 1:42 PM EST reply actions

Brayan Villarreal

He’s a guy who I think should talked about a lot more than he is.

by aCone419 on Dec 20, 2025 3:03 PM EST reply actions

+1

by Ryno1984 on Dec 20, 2025 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Tigers and Sleepers are mutually exclusive

I feel for John having to find 20 prospects to grade in this system. I’m a huge Tigers fan and I struggle with it. After Turner, Oliver, Fields, Castellano and Crosby, it is slim pickings. I’ll be shocked if we have more than three prospects who are graded in the “B” range.

by spence92 on Dec 20, 2025 4:40 PM EST reply actions

Turner, Oliver and Castellano will all be at least a B. Crosby will be a B- due to injury concerns and Fields will get a B- as well.

Furbush? His K rate was outstanding last year and I would guess he would be a B-.

If Strieby can get his hamate situation figured out, perhaps he can take the LF spot from Raburn? Due to his injury issues, Strieby is a C+ but I’ll remain optimistic that he can get back to full health and justify the higher grade he received last year.

If Schlereth is still eligible, I suspect he would be a B- as well based on his potential.

by mikegostate on Dec 20, 2025 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

Strieby can't really play LF

Deputy Editor, Bless You Boys

Free Scott Sizemore!

by David Tokarz on Dec 21, 2025 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Furbush

Gets overlooked a lot, and if I had to guess it’s mainly because people just look at his age without realizing how little pro experience he had going into the year due to the TJ surgery.

Casper Wells too…really turned a corner late in the year. They’re older guys, but I could see both of them contributing next year to the MLB club.

Now writing for BaseballInstinct.com

by Franchise887 on Dec 20, 2025 9:20 PM EST reply actions

I heard entirely too much about furbush this year relative to his talent

by mrkupe on Dec 20, 2025 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

A few others to consider

Pitchers - Besides Turner, Oliver, Crosby, Ruffin, and Villarreal, these guys may merit consideration for your list - SPs Charlie Furbush, Duane Below, Luis Marte, Thad Weber, Drew Smyly, Adam Wilk; RPs Daniel Schlereth, Robbie Weinhardt, Jose Ortega, Lester Oliveros, Matt Hoffman, Bruce Rondon. Not a real strong group, but some guys could surprise.

Position Players - Besides Castellanos, Fields, Vazquez, perhaps Worth & Azcona, I came up with these names. Cs - Robert Brantly, Bryan Holaday; 1B - Ryan Strieby, when/if healthy; 3Bs - Wade Gayner, Francisco Martinez; SS - Cale Iorg, defensive wiz who finally showed some signs with the bat at Toledo & in the AFL; OFs - Casper Wells, Andy Dirks, Avisail Garcia. Again, not exactly budding superstars, but maybe a few solid big leaguers among them.

by BengalBJ on Dec 20, 2025 9:25 PM EST reply actions