Detroit Tigers: Impact of a potential Christin Stewart 2018 call-up

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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 07: A wide view of Comerica Park during a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels on June 7, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans could see some of the team’s top prospects start to debut during the 2018 season. One of those prospects is outfielder Christin Stewart

Detroit Tigers prospect Christin Stewart has been one of the franchise’s most promising prospects since being taken in the first round of the 2015 draft.

Chosen with the pick Detroit received for Washington signing Max Scherzer, Stewart was selected as part of the same draft class as Andrew Benintendi, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman.

Pretty good company, right?

Those four have already started to make an impact in the Majors. Stewart may not be far behind.

The outfielder spent the 2017 campaign playing for a Double-A Erie squad loaded with future Tigers, including Franklin Perez, Grayson Long and fellow 2015 first-round pick Beau Burrows.

A number of the players could reach the Majors next season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Stewart have the most significant impact.

The former first-round pick, who was just named the Tigers’ minor league hitter of the year, will bring left-handed power and a steady source of walks to Detroit’s lineup.

Stewart will obviously have to show well in Triple-A before reaching the Majors, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him in Detroit earlier in the year if he gets off to a torrid start in Toledo.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers catches a fly ball hit by Yolmer Sanchez of the Chicago White Sox for an out during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on September 16, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Outfield need

As it stands, the Tigers could use the influx of talent in the outfield.

Mikie Mahtook and Nicholas Castellanos are the only established options heading into next season.

Outside of the duo, Detroit also has JaCoby Jones.

However, Jones has yet to establish himself at the plate in the Majors.

Incumbents

After those three, the remaining incumbent options are 32-year-old Alex Presley, 32-year-old Jim Adduci, 31-year-old Andrew Romine and 27-year-old Tyler Collins.

With the exception of Collins, the other outfield candidates don’t fit with Detroit’s rebuild based on their respective ages.

In regard to Collins, the outfielder hasn’t been able to hit consistently since making his Major League debut in 2014.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Detroit head into Opening Day with all four of the aforementioned outfielders playing elsewhere.

Trade chips?

Detroit should look to sell high on Presley this offseason.

So far, the veteran has registered a .366 on-base percentage and a 0.7 WAR in 250 plate apperances.

Extracting a prospect for Presley would be a definite win for general manager Al Avila considering the outfielder joined the organization on a minor league deal.

Similarly, Avila should look to trade Romine. Detroit would be better off giving his bench spot to a young player.

Contending teams are always looking for versatile reserve options, so there could conceivably be a trade market for Romine.

That leaves Mahtook, Castellanos, Jones, Gerber and Stewart in the outfield mix.

It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Detroit add a veteran outfielder on a one-year deal.

Either way, Stewart’s presence in the lineup sometime in 2018 would go a long way in boosting the Tigers’ offense.

DETROIT, MI – JULY 15: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers after hitting a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Comerica Park on July 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Offensive firepower

After trading J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton and Alex Avila this season, the Detroit Tigers are a bit thin offensively.

The trades, coupled with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez spending time on the sidelines, have left Detroit’s offense ranking 24^th in runs scored in September.

Other September offensive ranks for the Tigers include checking in at 21^st in ISO, 19^th in wOBA and 18^th in wRC+.

As it stands, there aren’t many in-house options to significantly improve the team’s offense.

A rebound season from a healthy Cabrera would certainly help, but Detroit has lost plenty of the lineup depth that came with the likes of J.D. Martinez, Upton and Avila.

This is all without mentioning that Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias could conceivably be traded, so the offense could be in need of more run producers.

One run producer could be Stewart.

The outfielder has the upside to be a run producer for years to come. While he’s a different player than Martinez and Upton, Stewart can fill a similar role in terms of driving in runs behind Miguel Cabrera.

Right now, the only player capable of doing that on the roster is Castellanos.

The lack of options is a far cry from last year when Brad Ausmus could slot in J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez, Upton or Castellanos behind the future Hall of Famer.

2018

How the Detroit Tigers fare statistically next season probably doesn’t matter too much in the grand scheme of things.

However, the team can accelerate the rebuild somewhat if the younger position players can take a significant step forward at the plate.

This means players like Stewart, Castellanos, Mahtook, catcher James McCann and third baseman Jeimer Candelario having strong seasons.

If those five can play at a higher standard and Cabrera rebounds, that’s a decent base to build on for the future—especially considering Stewart, Castellanos, Mahtook, McCann and Candelario could all be part of the next great Detroit Tigers team.

Next: Predicting Jose Iglesias' trade market

Add in some consistent starting pitching behind Michael Fulmer from pitchers like Matthew Boyd and Daniel Norris and the Tigers will be that much closer to contending.

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Detroit Tigers: Impact of a potential Christin Stewart 2018 call up