5 Prospects That Will Make an Impact for 2015 Detroit Tigers

Feb 28, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Kyle Ryan (56) poses during Photo day at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

#5: Kyle Ryan

Kyle Ryan spent most of the 2014 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves and while his numbers were not all that impressive (7-10, 4.55 ERA, 1.358 WHIP), he improved enough to get promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He excelled, compiling a 3-0 record with a 1.64 ERA and 0.788 WHIP. This performance allowed him to get a cup of coffee with the big league club.

With Anibal Sanchez injured in August and September, and the Detroit Tigers facing multiple double-header late in the season, the team needed plenty of young arms as spot starters and for bullpen help. Ryan was one of these and he made the most of his opportunity.

The 22-year old made his major league debut in the second game of a twin-bill with the Chicago White Sox, going an impressive six innings of shutout ball helping the Tigers win 8-4 to record his first major league win.

He stayed on for the remainder of the regular season, along with other September call-ups, though he appeared exclusively in relief the rest of the way. Ryan did not allow a run until his final apperance, allowing three runs in an 11-4 loss to Minnesota.

Though it was in a very limited role, Kyle Ryan has shown the capability of being a spot starter as well as short or long relief in the bullpen. That valuable service will make him a Tiger one or more times in 2015.

Mar 10, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Steven Moya (33) swings and misses during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

#4: Steven Moya

Being the top prospect in the Detroit Tigers’ organization can be a scary proposition. Just mere hours after being named the top prospect last fall, Devon Travis was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Anthony Gose. That meant #2 prospect Steven Moya ascended to #1.

Moya is very exciting and had about as good of a minor league season as you can have. The 23-year old racked up an All-Star Game MVP, league MVP, and appearance in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. He also impressed in the Arizona Fall League this past October and November. He has also been pretty good in Spring Training thus far.

Still, he may need a bit of seasoning of his raw skills in Toledo. Some worry about the hitch in his swing and his problems hitting against right-handers.

Unless Moya suddenly catches fire in Spring Training against big league-caliber pitching, especially right handers, he should not make the team. He is an intriguing prospect but needs the proper treatment.

If he tears up AAA like J.D. Martinez did a year ago, then he will be with the Tigers before September. If injuries fell one or two of the outfielders, he’ll be up sooner.

Mar 3, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Kyle Lobstein (53) pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Baltimore Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

#3 Kyle Lobstein

Our second young “Kyle” on this list–as in Kyle Lobstein–is probably the Tigers’ best prospect that will be a staple of the starting rotation in the not too distant future.

Like that other Kyle, Lobstein was called up because of the absence of Sanchez and the frequency of second-half double-headers. He made his major league debut in Minnesota in the first game of a doubleheader on Aug. 23. In that game the Tigers turned to another rookie, Buck Farmer, to hold down the potent Minnesota bats and try to preserve the bullpen for the second game.

Farmer failed, allowing seven runs and lasting only into the second inning. Lobstein was the unsung hero in the lost cause.  While he allowed three runs on four hits, Detroit just needed him to chew some innings. That he did, pitching the final 5.2 innings in the 12-4 decimation.

Betsided

That outing earned Lobstein a start over Robbie Ray and Farmer the next turn through the rotation. Kyle gave the team innings and held them in the game with the Yankees on Aug. 28, allowing his team to win it with a ninth inning walk-off. Another solid effort came while the Tigers were looking to avoid a home sweep at the hands of the San Francisco Giants. On Sunday Night Baseball, Lobstein limited the future World Series Champs to one run on four hits and earned his first major league win.

In each of his first four starts, Lobstein allowed three runs or less, but seemed to bottom out near the end of the year, including the penultimate game of the year. With the division on the line, Kyle fell victim to the Twins’ hot hitting and surrendered a career-high six runs, necessitating the Tigers win the division on the season’s final day.

Lobstein will be on the Tigers in 2015, however he may not be here full-time unless one of the starters gets injured or become ineffective. Unlike other young players plucked from the minors, we know we will get a solid effort out of him.

Feb 28, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Daniel Fields (29) poses during Photo day at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

#2 Daniel Fields

The seemingly lost prospect, Daniel Fields has struggled with injuries and consistency since being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the 2009 draft.

A local boy (University of Detroit Jesuit High School and son of Tigers’ minor league hitting instructor Bruce Fields), Fields’ power had never materialized and he has never put together an average higher than .284. Nonetheless it is the glove that intrigues the organization and has kept the Tigers patient while he attempt to establish himself.

Last season many hoped it would be Fields’ breakout season, but again a broken hand hampered him in a season spent largely in Toledo. He finished with a .219 average with 5 homers and 26 RBIs and did not warrant a September call-up.

Though the fifth outfielder job figures to be Tyler Collins‘ job to lose, Fields is giving Brad Ausmus and company something to chew on, belting two homers and hitting at a near .500 clip through the first two weeks of Grapefruit League play.

Still, as we mentioned with Moya, it would serve Fields well to spend yet another season in the minors. His first season in AAA was marred by injury so it will be good to see how he will fare while healthy and after a good spring. Again like Moya, if one of the outfielders is dinged up, and he is still playing relatively well, he will receive a call-up.

That (eventual) promotion will allow the 24-year old to make his major league debut.

Mar 10, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Tyler Collins (18) runs to first base during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Tyler Collins

We mentioned him before, but it appears it is Tyler Collins‘ time to shine.

The 24-year-old was a good story coming out of Lakeland last year. While he struggled a bit toward the end of camp, he made the season-opening roster for the first time in his career, making his debut on Opening Day. Collins didn’t notch his first hit until his seventh game of the season, a two-hit performance in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, but that would be it for that stint.

Collins was sent down to Toledo in exchange for J.D. Martinez, and because of J.D. Mart’s success, he was stranded in the minors despite hitting for power with 18 homers in 121 games at Toledo. After being called up in September, Collins immediately got busy, hitting a three-run homer in Cleveland on September 1.

One cause of concern with Collins being on the 25-man roster is how he will do without regular at-bats, something he appeared to struggle with in April of last year, but was fine with after his September call-up.

But with another year of experience under his belt, Tyler should fit in well with the outfield rotation and be a powerful bat off the bench when the Tigers need him.

Next: Cespedes as DH, Romine and Perez, Zeid on the way