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.

Christin Stewart
Position: Left Field
Age: 23
Current Affiliate: Double-A Erie
MCB Preseason Prospect Rank: #2

After playing in 24 games (100 plate appearances) for Double-A Erie last season, Christin Stewart is on a tear at the plate at the level in 2017.

In 221 plate appearances, the slugger is hitting .260 with a .367 on-base percentage and a .559 slugging percentage despite a .294 BABIP.

Stewart has also mashed 14 home runs already, to go along with 40 RBI and 26 runs scored.

He’s also chipped in with a 155 wRC+, a .404 wOBA and a .298 ISO. If he continues to produce at that rate, it won’t be long before he’s in Triple-A Toledo, and eventually the Majors.

Beau Burrows
Position: Starting Pitcher
Age: 20
Current Affiliate: Double-A Erie
MCB Preseason Prospect Rank: #3

On Sunday afternoon, The Erie Times-News’ Tom Reisenweber tweeted the following:

“Big roster move: Beau Burrows has been promoted to the @erie_seawolves from Lakeland.”

As of Monday, the hard-throwing right-hander is currently listed on Erie’s roster on the team’s official website.

The 2015 first-round pick pitched with Advanced-A Lakeland for the first time in 2017. After pitching to a 3.15 ERA, 6.3 strikeouts per nine frames and a 1.206 WHIP in 97 frames with the club, the starter has thrived with Lakeland this season.

In 58.2 frames in the Florida State League, Burrows has punched out 62 batters in 58.2 innings. He’s only surrendered 11 walks, eight earned runs and three home runs on the season.

That spits out to a 1.23 ERA, 9.5 strikeouts and 1.7 walks per nine innings and a 0.9555 WHIP.

Like Stewart, he could be with the Major League club in the coming seasons.