Detroit Tigers: Eight Prospects in the Low Minors to Keep an Eye on in 2017

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is in the midst of building a more sustainable farm system. Here are eight players in the lower levels of the minors worth watching next season.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t exactly seen the gold standard of farm systems in years past.

Under former general manager Dave Dombrowski, the franchise opted to deal many of its brightest minor league talents for upgrade at the Major League level.

Sometimes, this strategy worked out brilliantly as the prospects traded away didn’t pan out while the players Detroit received thrived.

While the respective acquisitions of Miguel Cabrera, Doug Fister and Jhonny Peralta were all definite wins for the Tigers, there were losses as well.

The Devon Travis–Anthony Gose swap stands out as a retrospectively poor deal for Detroit. The same can likely be said of the trades to acquire Edgar Renteria, Jose Veras and Joakim Soria.

However, things are different with Al Avila at the helm.

Detroit’s current general manager already added intriguing talent in his first draft in charge. The likes of Matt Manning, Kyle Funkhouser, Mark Ecker, Bryan Garcia and Zac Houston all have the upside to be key members of the Tigers roster.

Prospects like Manning, Christin Stewart, Funkhouser and Beau Burrows are some of the more notable names in the system, but there are plenty of other prospects to keep an eye on.

Here are eight players from the lower levels of the Detroit Tigers farm system that are worth monitoring next season.

Hector Rodriguez
Age: 20
Position: Relief Pitcher
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Gulf Coast League Tigers East

Similar to Viloria, Rodriguez made his way to the States after thriving in a foreign summer league.

The 20-year-old posted ERAs under 3.50 in each of his two seasons playing for the Tigers in the Venezuelan Summer League.

The reliever appeared in 16 games for one of Detroit’s two affiliates in the Gulf Coast League, and posted some solid stats.

All told, Rodriguez turned in a 1.95 ERA in 27.2 relief innings. He’ll have to cut down on his walks—5.2 per nine innings—but it’s still extremely encouraging that the right-hander was so successful in his first season in the States.

Victor Mueses
Age: 21
Position: Relief Pitcher
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Connecticut Tigers

Similar to Rodriguez, Mueses also suited up for one of Detroit’s Gulf Coast League affiliates last season.

Playing for Tigers West, the right-hander notched a 3.32 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 21.2 frames.

Those performances led to a stint with the Connecticut Tigers, where the 21-year-old made an early impact in limited innings.

Mueses struck out seven batters while allowing just one run in 4.1 frames.

With a 2.78 career ERA in the minors, the pitcher has a chance to move up the ladder if he can continue to replicate his success.

Kody Eaves
Age: 23
Position: Infielder
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Erie SeaWolves

Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Jefry Marte, Eaves wrapped up his first full season above the Single-A level in 2016.

The 23-year-old only hit .222 with Erie, but did post a career-high .733 OPS at Double-A.

What is perhaps most impressive about the prospect is his ability to fill the stat sheet.

In 134 games for Advanced-A Inland Empire in 2015, the former 16^th-round pick collected 71 RBI, 70 runs scored, 21 stolen bases, 17 doubles, 11 triples and 11 home runs.

Eaves continued to contribute in a number of different ways for Detroit’s Double-A squad last season.

Overall, the infielder drove in 51 runs while also adding 42 runs scored, 24 doubles, 11 home runs, six stolen bases and four triples.

Able to play both second and third base, Eaves could eventually find a role as a contributor with the Tigers.

Ryan Milton
Age: 25
Position: Relief Pitcher
2016 Minor League Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

At 25-years-old, Milton isn’t your traditional prospect, but it’s hard to argue with his results so far in the lower minors.

The right-hander owns a 2.76 ERA in 84.2 frames since being drafted in the 23^rd round in 2015.

Additionally, Milton has also struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings since becoming a professional.

Milton will obviously have to continue his success against better competition. However, if he does, there’s upside to be had coming out of the bullpen.

Anthony Pereira
Age: 20
Position: Infielder
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Erie SeaWolves

On the surface, Pereira’s .208 batting average and .560 OPS don’t jump off the page.

However, in the infielder’s 38 games played last season, he routinely played against significantly older competition.

Per the player’s Baseball Reference page, opposing players were an average of 2.1 years older than him in the New York-Pennsylvania League.

Following his jump to West Michigan, his colleagues in the Midwestern League were 2.5 years older.

The same story was true in Pereira’s stops in the Florida State League (3.7 years older) and the Eastern League (5.3 years older).

If the Tigers were comfortable with promoting him against older competition, he clearly has upside. Watch this space.

Zach Shepherd
Age: 21
Position: Third Baseman
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Lakeland Flying Tigers

Similar to Pereira, Shepherd also spent the 2016 season hitting against players who were much older than him.

According to the Australia native’s Baseball Reference page, Shepherd’s competition in the Florida State League this season was 2.7 years older than him.

While the infielder’s .186 batting average wasn’t anything to write home about, Shepherd did manage to turn in a .301 on-base percentage. What’s more, he also started to showcase some power.

Next: Nine 2016 Tigers Draft Picks to Watch Next Season

In 121 games, Shepherd smashed 15 home runs to go along with 20 doubles and a triple. The third baseman also chipped in with 64 walks and 62 runs scored.