Detroit Tigers: How Origination’s Top Prospects are Faring in Arizona Fall League

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is moving away from hefty contracts. The Tigers will now focus on development. With that said, here’s how Detroit’s prospects are faring in the Arizona Fall League.

Detroit Tigers fans saw a fare bit of youth infused into the active roster last season. Not only did the likes of JaCoby Jones and Michael Fulmer make their Major League debuts, but Fulmer, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Bruce Rondon established themselves as integral parts of the team.

With Avila looking to operate with a younger and more fiscally-sustainable team, the emergence of the young players was key.

However, the aforementioned players aren’t the only young players with high upside in the Detroit system. The likes of Matt Manning, Mike Gerber and Joe Jimenez will all contribute to the Tigers down the road.

Additionally, the team sent seven players to Arizona to participate in the Arizona Fall League. The seven players include outfielder Christin Stewart, Jones and catcher Grayson Greiner.

Four right-handed pitchers, Artie Lewicki, Adam Ravenelle, Jeff Thompson and Spencer Turnbull, also made the trip.

All seven players will get valuable experience and reps playing for the Salt River Rafters against other top minor league talents.

Coincidentally, the group is joined by a pair of former Tigers farmhands. Backstop Kade Scivicque, who went to Atlanta in the Erick Aybar trade, is also playing for the Rafters—as is pitcher Gabe Speier.

Speier came to Detroit with Yoenis Cespedes and Alex Wilson from Boston in exchange for Rick Porcello. After one year in the Tigers organization, the pitcher was also dealt to Atlanta.

Speier and Ian Krol were dealt for Cameron Maybin. The left-hander was dealt to Arizona last offseason in the Shelby Miller blockbuster.

Here’s a look at how the seven current Tigers farmhands are doing so far in the Arizona Fall League.