Detroit Tigers Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Dec 21, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Very thin system.....a whole lotta Grade C. I'm not really inclined to add more guys here, since I need the space to put in players from other teams that I might otherwise have to cut, but let me know what you think.

Detroit Tigers 33 players

Rob Brantly                C
Alex Burgos                LHP
Josue Carreno             RHP
Nick Castellanos           3B
Casey Crosby               LHP
Brandon Douglas            2B
Daniel Fields              OF
Charlie Furbush            LHP
Avisail Garcia             OF
Wade Gaynor                3B
Scott Green                RHP
Bryan Holaday              C
Jaime Johnson      OF
Corey Jones                2B
Jordan Lennerton           1B
Dixon Machado              SS
Francisco Martinez         3B
Andy Oliver                LHP
Jose Ortega                RHP
Tony Plagman               1B
Bruce Rondon               RHP
Chance Ruffin              RHP
Dan Schlereth              LHP
Drew Smyly                 LHP
Ryan Strieby               OF
Jacob Turner               RHP
Danry Vazquez              OF
Brayan Villareal           RHP
Robbie Weinhardt           RHP
Casper Wells               OF
Adam Wilk                  LHP
Danny Worth                SS

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Possible additions/subtractions

Additions

Cale Iorg - Had another poor year at the plate, but hit pretty well in the AZL. Reports are that his defense is still outstanding.

Gustavo Nunez - Similar to Iorg in that he had a terrible year at the plate, but has an excellent glove. Unlike Iorg he has had some recent success over a full season (2009).

Lester Oliveros - On the 40-man roster. Very good strikeout rates, but poor control in first taste of Erie.

Ramon Lebron - Probably the hardest thrower in the system, but usually has no idea where its going. Ultimate boom or bust pitching prospect.

Cody Satterwhite - Probably should be on the list just because Scott Green is. Satterwhite was drafted earlier and made it up to Erie with some success in 2009. I have not heard much on how his rehab is going.

Subtractions

Jordan Lennerton - Just really roster filler. He posted good numbers in Lakeland, but will be 25 on opening day and has yet to reach Erie.

Tony Plagman - Appears to be similar to Lennerton, but with slightly more power.

by Ekaye80 on Dec 21, 2025 6:10 PM EST reply actions

comments

Iorg and Nunez will never hit enough for their loves to matter. Lebron has no idea what he’s doing. Satterwhite, yes, I should put him in. Same with Oliveros. Will drop Lennerton. I already wrote Plagman’s comment so he’ll stick.

by John Sickels on Dec 21, 2025 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

gloves

GLOVES not loves

by John Sickels on Dec 21, 2025 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

thoughts

I think Ekaye80 is on target suggesting Lennerton & Plagman be dropped. They appear to be good organizational players, but don’t hit enough to be future major leaguers. Your additions are valid too, from all I’ve heard the organization remains high on both Iorg & Nunez despite their offensive struggles. Both are supposed to be exceptional defensively.

I’d also add Andy Dirks - he’s just a solid ballplayer - probable future 4th OFer who’s decent defensively, has good control of the strike zone, average power, and OK overall hitting tools.

by BengalBJ on Dec 21, 2025 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

Dirks

I forgot about him. He shouldn’t definitely be in there as well. His ceiling seems to be as a 4th outfielder, but as bad as the Tiger’s system is right now, that should be enough to get listed.

by Ekaye80 on Dec 21, 2025 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

I think he’s off suggesting Plagman be dropped. He’s a great first baseman with a lot of power. Lennerton I’m on the fence on.

by runneroll16 on Dec 23, 2025 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with you

I agree with runneroll16, I think Plagman’s good, almost broke Jason Varitek’s homerun record at Georgia Tech. Will be interesting to see how he does in 2011.

by BJP15 on Dec 26, 2025 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

I know sometimes a player's personal life will have an affect on their prospect status...

but I really don’t see how who their cuddle-bunny is makes that much of a difference.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2025 10:14 PM EST up reply actions

editing typos

How do fix typos; I’m new here.

by BengalBJ on Dec 21, 2025 6:52 PM EST reply actions

You don't. Not in the comments anyways.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2025 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

If you're that worried about cuts...

If you’re stretching to find 33 players really worth talking about in the Tigers’ system, go ahead and cut names to save room for other, more interesting prospects on other teams.

And you can do the same to the A’s if you need to… when you finally get around to covering them, that is.

The monster at the end of this blog.

by grover on Dec 21, 2025 10:18 PM EST reply actions

Maybe Cole Nelson?

Possibly Rawley Bishop, Zach Simons, and James Robbins?

Agreed that Lennerton can be cut.

by Dberg on Dec 22, 2025 10:32 AM EST reply actions

A few possible additions...

John Murrian - C - Didn’t hit much last year, but he has a little bit of pop in his bat and will probably begin in AA as a 22-year-old this year. Supposedly a good defender and leader too.

Cole Nelson - LHP - Huge lefty (6’7, 233) struggled in college, but the Tigers supposedly altered his mechanics and have him hitting 94 with regularity. Was dominant in limited action last year.

Kyle Ryan - LHP - Probably meh, but solid frame (6’5, 180) and decent numbers in the GCL as an 18-year-old.

BIlly Nowlin - Decent hitter with solid pop and no apparent defensive value.

Depressing system.

by ChrisBrown on Dec 22, 2025 10:39 AM EST reply actions