Detroit Tigers: Organization's next wave of prospects is getting closer

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MIAMI, FL – JULY 09: Beau Burrows #55 of the Detroit Tigers and the U.S. Team delivers the pitch against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers prospects like Christin Stewart, Mike Gerber and Beau Burrows could all be in the Majors in the next few seasons. The trio could lead a wave of prospects who could make an impact in Detroit.

Detroit Tigers fans have generally seen older and veteran laden rosters in years past.

This has largely been due to fact that former general manager Dave Dombrowski left the farm system barren after dealing top prospects like Willy Adames, Corey Knebel and Devon Travis for upgrades at the Major League level.

Because of this, when Al Avila took over, he didn’t have much to work with in terms of prospects near the Major League level.

Michael Fulmer was obviously close, but that was about it.

Detroit’s only other notable prospects near the Majors were Steven Moya, Dixon Machado and Drew VerHagen.

Meanwhile, promising prospects like Joe Jimenez and Christin Stewart were stashed in the low minors with Single-A West Michigan.

Fast forward to 2017, and Jimenez has already made his Major League debut. Stewart and some of the team’s other top prospects aren’t as close, but they could be providing a significant wave of reinforcements in the next season or two.

A major influx of young talent has been unheard of in the Motor City, but it is something that could happen as soon as 2018, if not 2019.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A wide view behind home plate of Comerica Park during a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Position players

Christin Stewart

Stewart is currently pacing the Eastern League in home runs with 20 for Double-A Erie. He’s also batting .266 with a .347 on-base percentage, a .518 slugging percentage and an .856 OPS.

The outfielder, who has also racked up 66 RBI, 49 runs scored, 19 doubles, three stolen bases and three hits, could conceivably be in Detroit at some point next season.

Many of Stewart’s Double-A teammates could join him.

Mike Gerber

The group includes fellow outfielder Mike Gerber, who is filling up the stat sheet for Erie with a .292 batting average, an .811 OPS, 49 runs scored, 31 walks, 30 RBI, 19 doubles, eight stolen bases, seven home runs and a triple.

A center fielder capable of playing all three outfield spots, Gerber could factor into the big league outfield picture alongside Stewart, Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones and Justin Upton.

Dawel Lugo

Dawel Lugo may be slightly further away than Stewart and Gerber, but he brings promising upside nonetheless.

The infielder, who can play third base and shortstop, looks like a solid defender with offensive upside.

Lugo is hitting .279 with 47 RBI, 43 runs scored, 24 walks, 21 doubles, nine home runs and four triples in 93 games at the Double-A level this season.

Other Erie prospects of note include 23-year-old infielder and potential utility man Kody Eaves (.798 OPS, 39 runs scored, 31 RBI and 24 extra-base hits in 266 plate appearances) and defensive-minded catcher Grayson Greiner.

The pitching staff part 1

Moving on to the pitching side of things, there are a number of intriguing young hurlers pitching for the SeaWolves who could don a Detroit uniform in the next two years.

Beau Burrows

Burrows, arguably the Detroit Tigers’ starting pitching prospect outside of Matt Manning and Alex Faedo, is also at Double-A.

While he’s only made eight starts at the level, he’ll likely beat the two aforementioned starters to the Majors.

Just 20-years-old, Burrows could be getting the hang of Double-A after a rough stretch.

Following a three-start stint in late June when the hurler allowed 14 runs, eight walks and three home runs in just 13.1 innings, he’s limited the opposition to 11 hits, nine walks and four runs over his last 16.1 frames.

Burrows has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his eight starts for Erie. Five of those starts have seen the opposing team scored two times or fewer.

Bryan Garcia

The fastest-rising player from the Detroit Tigers 2016 draft class, Garcia has already reached Erie after dominating in West Michigan and again in Lakeland this season.

The 22-year-old features a power fastball and a promising changeup, as well as closing experience.

Overall, the right-hander 14 saves this season to go along with a 1.69 ERA in 37.1 innings spread across 34 appearances.

Garcia has struck out 59 batters over the same span, and hasn’t stopped dominating despite the step up in competition to the Eastern League.

In 14.1 frames for Erie, the Miami product owns a 1.26 ERA and 17 strikeouts compared to just eight walks, six hits and a home run.

It probably wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in Toledo before 2017 is through.

MIAMI, FL – JULY 09: Jairo Labourt #53 of the Detroit Tigers and the World Team delivers the pitch against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Pitching staff part 2

Tyler Alexander

Tyler Alexander doesn’t strike out a ton of batters—just 7.2 per nine frames in his career—but he helps offset those numbers by limiting walks.

The starter has been hit hard at times with Erie this year, allowing 12.5 hits and 1.6 home runs per nine innings.

However, he’s also continued to limit walks with just 16 free passes handed out in 90.2 innings.

That control should help him reach the Majors.

Gerson Moreno

One of the Detroit Tigers many hard-throwing relief prospects, Moreno notched a 2.01 ERA, 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.209 WHIP with Advanced-A Lakeland before making the jump to Erie.

He’s struggled so far in terms of allowing runs to score, posting a 5.17 ERA in 15.2 frames. However, his strikeout rate (12.6 per nine) and WHIP (1.085) are both improvements on his Lakeland numbers.

Paul Voelker

Another power arm, Voelker flirts with triple digits on the radar gun. In 20.2 minor league innings this season, the right-hander has struck out 21 batters in 20.2 frames while allowing just three walks.

Jairo Labourt

Labourt previously pitched for Double-A Erie this season, but has already made the move to Triple-A Toledo. Because of this, he’s obviously closer to the Majors.

The reliever has been solid this year, striking out 12 batters per nine innings, while walking just 2.9 per nine frames in 49.1 innings.

Labourt’s ability to cut down on walks has helped him post better results coming out of the bullpen.

The southpaw walked 7.2 batters per nine innings in 2016, and 4.8 per nine frames in 2015. His WHIP stats those years? 1.612 and 1.546.

This year, Labourt is sitting on a 0.993 WHIP.

Next: Joe Jimenez should be used more in second half, regardless of trades

After having an up-and-down first outing with Toledo (three walks, two hits and two runs allowed, but also three strikeouts), the former Toronto farmhand has allowed just two walks and no hits in five innings while punching out five.

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Detroit Tigers: Organization’s next wave of prospects is getting closer