Detroit Tigers top 20 prospects following 2017 MLB Draft

#5 Starting pitcher Alex Faedo

Alex Faedo just won the College World Series with Florida, so he hasn’t started pitching in the minors yet.

However, he already ranks as one of the Detroit Tigers’ best prospects.

Armed with a mid-90s fastball and an excellent slide, Faedo should eventually be pitching at the front of the Tigers rotation alongside the likes of Michael Fulmer, Matt Manning and Beau Burrows.

#4 Starting pitcher Kyle Funkhouser

Current minor league affiliate: Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps

The case could made for switching Faedo and Funkhouser places on this list, but either way the Detroit Tigers have a pair of extremely promising starters.

Funkhouser is throwing like the pitcher that got him selected in the first round of the MLB draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2015 draft.

In 62.2 frames for Lakeland and West Michigan, Funkhouser owns a sparkling 2.44 ERA. What’s more, he’s struck out 83 batters to go along with just 19 walks.

What is perhaps most encouraging about the Louisville standout’s season is that he’s improved his strikeout percentages against better competition.

After striking out 9.8 batters per nine frames in 31.1 innings with Lakeland, Funkhouser has struck out 14.1 per nine innings in 31.1 frames for West Michigan.

#3 Starting pitcher Beau Burrows

Current minor league affiliate: Double-A Erie SeaWolves

Faedo or Funkhouser could have slotted in here as well, but Burrows gets the nod given his status as a member of Erie’s rotation.

The former first-round pick’s numbers (6.56 ERA, 1.89 WHIP) aren’t impressive in his first five starts for the SeaWolves, but the potential is there for Burrows to headline a rotation thanks to a pitching arsenal that includes a promising fastball as well as a curveball, changeup and slider.