Detroit Tigers: Top prospects’ minor league stats so far

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila has done a solid job rebuilding the team’s farm system. With the 2017 season in full swing, here’s a look at Detroit’s top prospects and how they’re faring this year.

Detroit Tigers didn’t see many prospects make an impact with the team for a long stretch.

However, things have changed recently.

Nicholas Castellanos made his full-season debut in 2014 and was soon followed by the likes of James McCann and Kyle Ryan in terms of young players establishing themselves with the Detroit.

Over the last few seasons, the likes of Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Bruce Rondon become contributors.

Just this season, Detroit has started to integrate JaCoby Jones, Dixon Machado and Joe Jimenez into the team.

Moving forward, Detroit looks to be driven more by young talent, especially with some of the prospects the team is developing in the minors.

Matt Manning has, perhaps, the highest ceiling, with the potential to be a frontline pitcher in the Majors. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 2016 first-round pick to develop into an ace.

Here is a look at some of the Detroit Tigers best minor league prospects and how they are faring so far in the 2017 season.

Kyle Funkhouser
Position: Starting Pitcher
Age: 23
Current Affiliate: Advanced-A Lakeland
MCB Preseason Prospect Rank: #4

Kyle Funkhouser was previously drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2015 draft.

A fourth-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2016, Funkhouser is performing like a pitcher who was a first-rounder.

After pitching to a 2.65 ERA in 37.1 innings for Connecticut last season, Funkhouser has thrived in stops with West Michigan and Lakeland this season.

In seven starts to begin the year with Detroit’s Single-A affiliate, the right-hander sat down 14.1 batters via the strikeout in 31.1 frames. He also notched a 1.372 WHIP while allowing just 13 walks and 11 earned runs.

In three starts since making the move to Lakeland, Funkhouser has continued to find success. He’s struck out 24 in only 19.1 innings.

What’s more, the Louisville product has limited mistakes, with just five runs, one home run and one walk allowed in three starts.

He’s a little further out than Stewart and Burrows, but Funkhouser could move into the Tigers rotation in the future.

Mike Gerber
Position: Outfielder
Age: 24
Current Affiliate: Advanced-A Lakeland
MCB Preseason Prospect Rank: #6

A 15^th-round pick in the 2014 draft, Mike Gerber has forced his way into being a top prospect for the Detroit Tigers with some excellent production.

A lifetime .289 hitter with a .826 OPS in the minors, the outfielder is off to another strong start with Double-A Erie this season.

In 53 games, Gerber is batting .303 with a .372 on-base percentage, a .462 slugging percentage and a .833 OPS.

He’s also contributed a 134 wRC+, a .374 wOBA, 36 runs scored, 23 walks, 20 RBI, 15 doubles, seven stolen bases and six home runs.

Even better? Gerber has played center field on a consistent basis this season.

Next: Tigers are in need of some rotation depth

It is obviously still early in the process, but it’s easy to get excited about a potential center fielder who can fill up the stat sheet in a variety of different ways.