Detroit Tigers Prospects Ready for September Audition

Steven Moya, Outfielder

Because of the injury earlier in the season to Victor Martinez and the trade of Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets Tyler Collins has been given an extended opportunity this season to prove why he should be the team’s left-fielder of the future. He’s failed to take that advantage. In the month of August he has started 15 games, made 64 plate appearances and slashed .242/.254/.306. He’s also only provided two home runs out of a position that’s expected to provide power for a lineup.

According to MLB Pipeline, Moya is the top prospect in the Tigers’ system and has recently been moved to left field in Toledo, likely as a prelude to his arrival in Detroit September 1.

Moya is 6 feet, 7 inches and 260 pounds of power potential that could team with Miguel Cabrera to supercharge the middle of the Tigers’ lineup. In 490 plate appearances at Toledo he collected 110 hits, including 25 doubles and 19 home runs. He also scored 49 runs and drove in 69.

The negative to his game is he struck out 148 times, or once in every 3.3 plate appearances. Moya only hit for a .241 average but his BAbip was .310 which means he’s providing good production when he does makes contact. More of that contact would make Moya a fixture as the Tigers’ left fielder for years to come.