2010 Detroit Tigers Top 20 Prospects in Review
Here is a review of the 2010 Tigers prospect list, originally published January 3, 2010. THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST AND PRE-SEASON GRADES. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST. The 2011 list and new grades won't be ready until the season is over and I start writing the book.
1) Casey Crosby, LHP, Grade B+: Just 12 innings for the GCL Tigers, rehabbing a sore elbow, but was shut down again in early July. It all depends on his health.
2) Jacob Turner, RHP, Grade B+: 3.77 ERA with 83/20 K/BB in 100 innings for Low-A West Michigan and High-A Lakeland, 97 hits. He's had a good season, though not a spectacular one.
3) Austin Jackson, OF, Grade B: Hitting .302/.354/.405 with 18 steals in 22 attempts for the Tigers. He's kept the batting average up all year despite a poor BB/K ratio. More home runs may come in time. I've always liked him better than the numbers said I should.
4) Alex Avila, C, Grade B: .219/.311/.332 in 71 games for the Tigers. Not a great year for the rookie, but he will get more chances.
5) Dan Schlereth, LHP, Grade B: 2.37 ERA with 60/34 K/BB in 49 innings for Triple-A Toledo, 40 hits. Has given up 10 hits and five runs in five major league innings. Love the strikeouts but command is still an issue.
6) Scott Sizemore, 2B, Grade B-: Got the plug pulled pretty fast. .205/.282/.282 in the majors, .292/.360/.455 for Toledo. I think he deserves another chance.
7) Ryan Strieby, 1B-OF, Grade B-: .245/.323/.400 for Toledo, 10 homers, 85 strikeouts in 290 at-bats, 33 walks. Lots of trouble in his home park, just .642 OPS vs. .827 on road.
8) Andy Oliver, LHP, Grade B-: Got killed in ill-advised major league promotion (7.36 ERA, 18/13 K/BB, 26 hits in 22 innings) but has had a good year for Double-A Erie and Toledo, 3.70 ERA, 93/38 K/BB in 105 innings. Not bad considering lack of A-ball experience and Nietzschean Tigers prospect philosophy.
9) Casper Wells, OF, Grade C+: .228/.305/.470 for Toledo, 32 walks, 106 strikeouts, 20 homers. I liked him a lot pre-season. Power is nice but his approach is getting away from him.
10) Wilkin Ramirez, OF, Grade C+: .229/.295/.450 with 21 homers, 36 walks, 154 strikeouts between Erie, Toledo, and Triple-A Gwinnett in the Braves system following a trade. Has tools, approach at the plate sucks.
11) Daniel Fields, SS, Grade C+: .232/.340/.363 for Lakeland. Why is this guy at Lakeland? He's only 19, had no rookie ball experience, and was considered raw coming out of a Michigan high school. Hard to judge at this point.
12) Cody Satterwhite, RHP, Grade C+: Has missed entire year with shoulder problems.
13) Robbie Weinhardt, RHP, Grade C+: 1.98 ERA with 18/4 K/BB in 27 innings for Toledo, 7.79 ERA with 11/5 K/BB in 17 innings for the Tigers, 24 hits. Will get more chances.
14) Brayan Villareal, RHP, Grade C+: 3.58 ERA, 117/34 K/BB in 113 innings for Lakeland and Erie, 97 hits. A very nice season, I like him.
15) Alfredo Figaro, RHP, Grade C: 4.14 ERA, 112/39 K/BB in 124 innings for Toledo, 142 hits. Nice K/BB ratio. Not a hot prospect at age 26 but could be useful.
16) Luis Marte, RHP, Grade C: 5.06 ERA, 53/26 K/BB in 48 innings for Erie, 44 hits. Good K-rate, otherwise blah.
17) Gustavo Nunez, SS, Grade C: .226/.264/.287 for Lakeland, 27 steals. Other than speed, he's pretty worthless offensively this year.
18) Melvin Mercedes, RHP, Grade C: 5.03 ERA, 12/19 K/BB in 20 innings for West Michigan. Out with Tommy John.
19) Ramon Lebron, RHP, Grade C: 5.38 ERA, 102/48 K/BB in 77 innings between West Michigan, GCL Tigers, and Connecticut in the New York-Penn League. His command was horrible in the Midwest League but he seems to have improved after being sent down to rookie ball to fix it. He'll try again in full-season ball next year. Love the strikeouts.
20) Cale Iorg, SS, Grade C: .211/.248/.333 with 17 walks, 135 strikeouts in 418 at-bats for Erie. He can't hit.
Brennan Boesch has been a great story this year although he's coming back to earth. He's always had the power, but did just enough with his approach this year to unleash it. We'll see if he can maintain it. I don't agree with how quickly the Tigers rush pitchers and some of their hitters. I much prefer the Tampa Bay approach.
I'm really glad Austin Jackson is having a strong debut...I went out on a limb with him.
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