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.

Position Players

Will Maddox

Positions: First Base and Second Base
2016 Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

Taken as an 18^th-round pick in 2014, Maddox hit .270 over 48 games in his first professional season with Connecticut.

However, after being limited to 13 games in 2015, the 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar campaign in West Michigan last season.

In 127 games, Maddox hit .339 with a stellar .380 on-base percentage. He only struck out 89 times while scoring 59 runs. What’s more, he collected 58 RBI, 28 stolen bases, 23 doubles, three triples and a home run.

All told, the Tennessee product lead the Midwest League in hits and finished fourth in batting average, sixth in stolen bases and ninth in total bases. He also ranked in the top 25 in sacrifice hits (14^th), on-base percentage (15^th) RBI (18^th), runs scored (22^nd) and doubles (23^rd).

With the rare defensive flexibility to play both first and second base, Maddox could eventually be playing in Comerica Park if he can keep hitting.

Grayson Greiner

Position: Catcher
2016 Affiliate: Toledo Mud Hens

A defensive catcher who finished up the season with a game in Toledo, Greiner turned in a productive year at the plate for both Lakeland and Erie this past season. The 24-year-old hit .293 in total, including 42 RBI, 34 runs scored, 15 doubles, seven home runs, three triples and a stolen base.

The backstop also posted a respectable .339 on-bae percentage while throwing out 33% of would-be base stealers.

Should Jarrod Saltalamacchia depart in free agency and either James McCann or John Hicks are unable to play, Grenier could make his Major League debut next season.

Kody Eaves

Positions: Second Base and Third Base
2016 Affiliate: Erie SeaWolves

Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Jefry Marte last offseason, Kody Eaves brought plenty of promise with him.

A second baseman with the ability to stuff the stat sheet, he scored 74 runs while hitting .268 in 2014. Eaves also contributed 45 RBI, 37 doubles, 25 stolen bases, 10 home runs and seven triples for Burlington in the Midwest League.

The former 16^th-round draft pick followed that up with a 2015 season at Inland Empire (the equivalent of playing for Lakeland) where he hit .248 with 71 RBI, 70 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 11 triples.

In his first season in the Tigers system, Eaves played just 106 games, but also saw time at third base. Despite a .222 batting average, the 23-year-old chipped in with 51 RBI, 42 runs scored, 24 doubles, 11 home runs, six stolen bases and four triples for Erie.

The player finished 2016 on a tear, hitting .351 with 13 hits, seven RBI, five runs scored, two home runs, a pair of walks and a stolen base over his final 37 at-bats.

While his overall batting average isn’t ideal, Eaves’ ability to contribute to the game in a number of ways is intriguing. If he can continue to be the kind of player who fills out the stat sheet, Detroit could come away with a steal.

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.