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Detroit Tigers: Nine Under the Radar Prospects to Watch in 2017

By Ben Rosener

Aug 8, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers executive vice president and general manager Al Avila before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers executive vice president and general manager Al Avila before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers
Mar 29, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hats, gloves and sunglasses in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Position Players

Will Maddox

Positions: First Base and Second Base
2016 Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

Taken as an 18th-round pick in 2014, Maddox hit .270 over 48 games in his first professional season with Connecticut.

However, after being limited to 13 games in 2015, the 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign in West Michigan last season.

In 127 games, Maddox hit .339 with a stellar .380 on-base percentage. He only struck out 89 times while scoring 59 runs. What’s more, he collected 58 RBI, 28 stolen bases, 23 doubles, three triples and a home run.

All told, the Tennessee product lead the Midwest League in hits and finished fourth in batting average, sixth in stolen bases and ninth in total bases. He also ranked in the top 25 in sacrifice hits (14th), on-base percentage (15th) RBI (18th), runs scored (22nd) and doubles (23rd).

With the rare defensive flexibility to play both first and second base, Maddox could eventually be playing in Comerica Park if he can keep hitting.

Grayson Greiner

Position: Catcher
2016 Affiliate: Toledo Mud Hens

A defensive catcher who finished up the season with a game in Toledo, Greiner turned in a productive year at the plate for both Lakeland and Erie this past season. The 24-year-old hit .293 in total, including 42 RBI, 34 runs scored, 15 doubles, seven home runs, three triples and a stolen base.

The backstop also posted a respectable .339 on-bae percentage while throwing out 33% of would-be base stealers.

Should Jarrod Saltalamacchia depart in free agency and either James McCann or John Hicks are unable to play, Grenier could make his Major League debut next season.

Kody Eaves

Positions: Second Base and Third Base
2016 Affiliate: Erie SeaWolves

Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Jefry Marte last offseason, Kody Eaves brought plenty of promise with him.

A second baseman with the ability to stuff the stat sheet, he scored 74 runs while hitting .268 in 2014. Eaves also contributed 45 RBI, 37 doubles, 25 stolen bases, 10 home runs and seven triples for Burlington in the Midwest League.

The former 16th-round draft pick followed that up with a 2015 season at Inland Empire (the equivalent of playing for Lakeland) where he hit .248 with 71 RBI, 70 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 11 triples.

In his first season in the Tigers system, Eaves played just 106 games, but also saw time at third base. Despite a .222 batting average, the 23-year-old chipped in with 51 RBI, 42 runs scored, 24 doubles, 11 home runs, six stolen bases and four triples for Erie.

The player finished 2016 on a tear, hitting .351 with 13 hits, seven RBI, five runs scored, two home runs, a pair of walks and a stolen base over his final 37 at-bats.

While his overall batting average isn’t ideal, Eaves’ ability to contribute to the game in a number of ways is intriguing. If he can continue to be the kind of player who fills out the stat sheet, Detroit could come away with a steal.

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