Tigers Mid Season Top 20: Just Missed The List

I admit, I don’t go very deep on the mid-season list. There are others that will go 30 and even 50 deep, but really it’s just a snapshot in time and after the short seasons are over, the lists are going to reshuffle again. It doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to look at still, but mid-season lists are by nature are kind of screwed up. We don’t even know who is going to exhaust their rookie status at this point.

Anyway, just for fun though, I wanted to talk about some guys that were just outside my top 20. In no particular order…

Corey Knebel(P)- Word was the Tigers wanted to try Knebel as a starter, but he says he much prefers to relieve. Well, that means his prospect status takes a hit, though I am not sure he would’ve made the top 20 anyway. Knebel got suspended twice in college, but his strong arm got him drafted anyway. He sits more 92-94 despite numbers as high as 98 being thrown out, and he has a hammer curve. His two pitch mix and competitive attitude mean he fits nicely at the back end of a bullpen.

Jun 17, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; Louisville Cardinals pitcher Jeff Thompson (44) throws against the Oregon State Beavers during the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Thompson (P)- I got to see Thompson pitch, so I feel pretty good about my analysis that is coming here. Thompson sits 90-94 with his fastball. He is a big bodied dude that is a bit stiff in his delivery and doesn’t have a ton of movement on his fastball. He was able to throw it for strikes consistently and paired it with a nice slider that looks at times to be above average. Thompson doesn’t throw the change much and will need to improve it as he moves up the pro ranks. His body and stuff would lend me to believe with some adjustments and improvements on his change, he has mid rotation potential.

Kyle Ryan (SP)- Ryan is a tall lefty that has been projectable for several years, however, he really hasn’t added the velocity the Tigers have hoped. At this point, Ryan is a guy that relies on keeping guys off-balance and is going to put his defense to work for him. He is your typical command lefty with a solid, but uninspiring, three pitch mix, who frankly is going to get mentioned because of a lot of the failures by other Tigers starting pitchers in the system.

Edgar De La Rosa (SP)- Dude is big, and can touch mid 90’s to upper 90’s with his fastball on occasion. De La Rosa also shows some ability to spin a breaking ball as well as throw a change. However, he is really inconsistent with his location and mechanics, and in all likelihood could end up a power reliever in the pen. He should be better than he is at this point, and is far too hittable right now. He is 22 so he is going to have begin making some strides.

Anthony Castro (SP)- Castro is a projectable guy that is spending his second season in the Venezuelan Summer League. While I was a little surprised he didn’t make it stateside this season, Castro isn’t any less of a prospect than he was last season. As a teenager still, he shows a good fastball, potential for a breaking ball and a change.