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

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila has set about rebuilding the team’s minor league system. So far it has been a success. Here are some under the radar prospects to keep an eye on for 2017.

Detroit Tigers minor league affiliates haven’t exactly been the gold standard of producing Major League talent as of late.

Sure, Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Bruce Rondon have established themselves as intregal parts of Detroit’s current roster, but most of the team started their respective careers elsewhere.

From Miguel Cabrera to Andrew Romine and Michael Fulmer to Blaine Hardy, many prominent Tigers were drafted or signed by other organizations. This has forced Detroit to dip into its own farm system to acquire said players.

Initially, the strategy worked.

Cabrera was acquired for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and package of other players. However, neither Maybin nor Miller stuck in Florida.

Both have come into their own in recent seasons, but the Tigers came away the obvious winners. What’s more, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante and Jose Iglesias came over in similarly lopsided deals.

However, there have been some recent deals that have clearly hurt Detroit’s farm system.

Dealing Devon Travis (5.3 WAR in 163 games for Toronto) for Anthony Gose was a misfire, as was dealing David Paulino (ranked as Houston’s fourth best prospect by MLB.com) for a half season of Jose Veras.

Since becoming general manager, Al Avila has focused on keeping Detroit’s premier prospects in the system, opting to develop them instead of move them for Major League upgrades.

While the likes of Matt Manning, Joe Jimenez, Beau Burrows and Mike Gerber all likely to contribute to the Tigers down the line, Detroit is set up well for the future. However, the team may be even better off should some of the other players in the system develop.

Manning and Burrows, along with Kyle Funkhouser, Derek Hill and Christin Stewart all came in as high draft picks. They were expected to, and have become some of the organization’s best prospects.

However, players like Jimenez, Gerber and Jose Azocar didn’t enter with as much fanfare. The trio have done nothing but produce in the minors and have vaulted themselves into the discussion regarding Detroit’s best hopes for the future.

There are likely to be more players like those three in the coming seasons. While the following players may not make their Major League debut in 2017, they’re worth keeping an eye on next year.

Relievers

Mark Ecker

Throws: Right-Handed
2016 Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

The first player selected by the Tigers after Matt Manning and Kyle Funkhouser, Mark Ecker has done nothing but dominate in his first 27.2 innings of professional works.

It’s obviously a small sample size, but the recent fifth-round draft pick allowed just five walks and three runs in two stops during the 2016 campaign at Connecticut and West Michigan. In addition, the Texas A&M product finished 16 games and notched nine saves.

Of the 103 batters he faced, Ecker struck out nearly a third of them (31). All told, he fanned 10.1 batters per nine innings, walked just 1.6 per nine frames and turned in a miniscule 0.98 ERA. If he can continue to find success against better competition, it may not be long before he’s pitching out of Detroit’s bullpen.

Zac Houston

Throws: Right-Handed
2016 Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

Another right-handed, 2016 draftee out of college who started in Connecticut before being promoted to West Michigan, Houston may have turned in a better first season than Ecker.

Over 29.2 innings of work, the 6’5” reliever posted a 0.30 ERA while allowing 15 walks. While his walk numbers were higher than Ecker’s, so were Houston’s strikeout totals, with 49 punch outs. That equates to a rate of 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Like his West Michigan teammate, Houston could move quickly through the system if he can sustain his success.

Bryan Garcia

Throws: Right-Handed
2016 Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

As it would happen, Bryan Garcia was also drafted out of college by the Detroit Tigers in the 2016 draft. He also started in Connecticut (yes, there’s a definite theme going on here) before making the move to West Michigan.

While Garcia struggled in his only outing for West Michigan, allowing three hits and three runs in just two thirds of an inning, he was dominant with Connecticut. The right-hander pitched to a 1.00 ERA while striking out 21 batters in 18 innings. Over the same span, he only walked three, which bodes well for the future.

Starting Pitchers

Myles Jaye

Throws: Right-Handed
2016 Affiliate: Toledo Mud Hens

Acquired with Bobby Wilson from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Bryan Holaday, Jaye turned in some quality pitching displays for Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo last season.

The right-hander pitched to a 3.95 ERA in 28 starts split between the two affiliates, striking out 135 in 161.2 innings pitched. The former White Sox farmhand could very well end up in a Major League rotation someday. Jaye could even make a mark in Detroit next season as a swingman.

Chad Bell

Throws: Left-Handed
2016 Affiliate: Toledo Mud Hens

At 27-years-old, Bell is older than most prospects. In fact, many probably view 27 as being too old for a prospect. However, the lefty has yet to pitch in the Majors and could fill a similar role to Jaye with next year’s team.

Over 98.1 innings at the Triple-A level, Bell went 11-4 with a 3.29 ERA. Those 98.1 innings included 12 starts and four instances when he finished the game. The former Rangers reliever finished tied for second in the International League in wins. He also ranked in the top 25 in total appearances.

Bell also came to Detroit from Texas, this time in exchange for Wilson. His versatility will certainly help his chances of cracking the Tigers active roster.

Matt Hall

Throws: Left-Handed
2016 Affiliate: Lakeland Flying Tigers

Drafted in the sixth round in 2015, Hall shot to relevance within the Tigers system thanks to a breakout 2016 campaign. In 127 innings for West Michigan and Lakeland, the Missouri State alum posted a 2.55 ERA and 126 strikeouts.

That stat line included an 8-0 record and a 1.09 ERA in 12 starts for the Whitecaps.

Hall struggled comparatively with Lakeland (4.15 ERA, 54 strikeouts in 60.2 innings). However, he has a chance to bounce back next year.

Next: The Tigers 10 Best Prospects Right Now

If Hall can adjust and continue to post excellent results, he could very well crack the Detroit Tigers pitching staff in the future.