Detroit Tigers Top Prospects: #10-#6, Smith, Baez, Hill, Alexander and Gerber

Detroit Tigers minor league players Drew Smith, Sandy Baez, Derek Hill, Tyler Alexander and Mike Gerber all show promise. They check in at #10-#6 on Motor City Bengals’ list of the top Tigers prospects.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen a number of veteran teams in recent memory.

Much of the team’s success in the past decade have been because of veteran standouts like Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Victor Martinez.

While the trio still play key roles on the roster, Detroit has integrated some exciting young talent into the team.

Michael Fulmer has shown that he’s already a frontline pitcher despite having just one season of Major League experience.

Elsewhere, Nick Castellanos is developing into a middle-of-the-order bat.

What’s more, James McCann, Bruce Rondon, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd have all become consistent contributors.

With top prospects JaCoby Jones and Joe Jimenez likely becoming a part of the Major League roster in the next season, the Tigers are getting younger by the year.

Jones and Jimenez are two of the next wave of young Detroit Tigers players to carry the team into the future.

Here’s a look at five more of those prospects, who comprise the first half of Motor City Bengals’ top 10 Tigers prospects.

#9 Sandy Baez
Age: 23
Position: Starting Pitcher
2016 Minor League Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

This past offseason, the Detroit Tigers added a trio of pitching prospects to the 40-man roster.

Two were Chad Bell and Myles Jaye, both acquired from Texas in the Bryan Holaday and Bobby Wilson deals.

Both Bell and Jaye could contribute in the Motor City next season, but the third prospect added is a few years away from being ready.

That would be Sandy Baez.

Baez, who spent the 2016 campaign with West Michigan, likely won’t make his Major League debut next season. However, when he does, he could have a sizeable impact.

The 23-year-old right-hander can dial up his fastball, flirting with triple digits in the process. What’s more, he also mixes in two promising off-speed pitches.

In 113.1 innings with West Michigan, the prospect turned in a 3.81 ERA and 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

While Baez didn’t overwhelm with strikeout numbers, he has the stuff to rack up more punch outs as time goes by.

Additionally, the starter limited damage, giving up just 2.2 walks and 0.6 home runs per nine innings.

Potential Future Role With the Detroit Tigers

Detroit has some intriguing starting talent coming through the ranks. Baez will certainly be in the mix for a rotation spot down the road given his upside.

#8 Derek Hill
Age: 21
Position: Center Fielder
2016 Minor League Affiliate: West Michigan Whitecaps

We interrupt the pitching section of this article to bring you former first-round pick Derek Hill.

A center fielder armed with elite speed, Hill has been slowed by injuries early in his minor league career. However, when he’s been on the field, he flashes significant upside.

In just 193 games played, the 21-year-old has already swiped 71 bases. What’s more, his bat is beginning to improve.

Over the span of 93 games for West Michigan in 2016, the 21-year-old hit 266 with a .312 on-base percentage.

He also chipped in with 66 runs scored, 31 RBI, 17 doubles, six triples and a home run.

Potential Future Role With the Detroit Tigers

Hill will miss part of the 2017 season after suffering an arm injury in early August last season. When healthy, he has the upside to be an exciting part of Detroit’s future.

Should he reach the Majors, Hill could eventually force JaCoby Jones to another position.

Long-term, the Tigers could have an elite outfield defense with the former first-round pick and Jones covering two-thirds of the outfield grass.

Coupled with young defenders like James McCann and Dixon Machado, Detroit could possess one of the league’s best defenses.

#7. Tyler Alexander
Age: 22
Position: Starting Pitcher
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Erie SeaWolves

The Detroit Tigers have a number of promising prospects to fill out the team’s future rotation. Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd will be part of the equation, as will Matt Manning.

Additionally, Baez, Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows, Spencer Turnbull and Myles Jaye could all be in the mix. However, despite the talent, expect Tyler Alexander to be part of the equation.

A second round pick in 2015, Alexander has already made it to Double-A.

In 136.1 innings split between Advanced-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, the starter turned in a sparkling 2.44 ERA while notching a 1.049 WHIP.

He also struck out 6.9 batters per nine frames while allowing just 1.3 walks and 0.7 home runs per nine innings.

What is perhaps most impressive about Alexander’s 2016 stat line is that he hit the ground running in his first six starts with the SeaWolves.

Over six starts, the 22-year-old gave up four walks compared to 23 strikeouts. The TCU product also logged a 3.15 ERA in 34.1 innings.

Potential Future Role With the Detroit Tigers

Alexander will eventually be starting games for Detroit. The fact that he’s already reached Double-A is an obvious plus, as is his ability to limit walks.

With solid command an ability to induce grounders, Alexander will be a solid starter for the Tigers.

#6 Mike Gerber
Age: 24
Position: Outfielder
2016 Minor League Affiliate: Outfielder

All Mike Gerber does is produce.

After being drafted in the 15^th round in 2014, Gerber batted .298 with an .859. The outfielder also added 44 runs scored, 42 RBI, 19 doubles, nine stolen bases, seven home runs and four triples.

As the years have progressed, the 24-year-old has continued to contribute in a number of different ways offensively.

Gerber registered 76 RBI, 74 runs scored, 31 doubles, 16 stolen bases, 13 home runs and 10 triples in 2015. That same season, he also batted .292 with a .355 on-base percentage.

Flash forward to the 2016 campaign, and the outfielder still filled up the stat sheet.

In 132 combined games with Advanced-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, the prospect drive in a career-best 80 runs while also scoring 69 times.

He also chipped in with 30 doubles, 18 home runs, eight stolen bases and six triples to go along with a .276 batting average.

Potential Future Role With the Detroit Tigers

As it stands, Detroit will have plenty of options moving forward in the outfield. Gerber has the look of a potential starting-caliber player, while Hill, Jones and Christin Stewart will likely be other starting options.

This is all without mentioning Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez, who could both conceivably around long-term.

Expect Gerber to be a long-term contributor to Detroit, either as a starter or as a key bench cog.