Detroit Tigers: Five prospects you could see on the Opening Day roster

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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A Detroit Tigers hat, glasses and glove sit on the dugout stairs during a MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans could see a very different team begin the season in 2017. While a number of the team’s top prospects aren’t fully ready for the Majors, a handful could conceivably be on the Opening Day roster.

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Franklin Perez could join the team in the Majors at some point in 2018.

The centerpiece of the Justin Verlander trade, Perez made it to Double-A Corpus Christi in the Houston system before being dealt to Detroit.

He didn’t make a start for Erie down the stretch, but the fact that he’s in Double-A suggests a Major League call up might not be far off.

It all depends on whether the extremely-advanced Perez is ready of course, but he could be in a Tigers uniform by the time July, August or September rolls around.

Sometimes pitchers don’t need much time in Triple-A before heading to the Majors.

Just look at Michael Fulmer, who threw just 15.1 innings for the Toledo Mud Hens in 2016 before joining Detroit’s rotation.

Of course, each situation is different and Perez only has 32 Double-A innings under his belt, but he’s potentially a strong start at Erie away from moving to Toledo.

After that, he’s just a phone call away with the Mud Hens.

Perez is one of a number of Double-A prospects who could be in Detroit by season’s end—if not earlier—in 2018.

The rest include slugger Christin Stewart, infielder Dawel Lugo and fellow starting pitcher Beau Burrows and Grayson Long.

This is all speculative mind you, but one other name to watch out for is Matt Hall.

The left-hander throws one of the more effective curveballs in the system as the pitch helped him rack up 149 strikeouts in 138.1 innings between Advanced-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie.

Despite not being able to overpower hitters, Hall’s curveball could be a weapon in a relief role before he moves back into the rotation in 2019.

Still, Hall has just six starts (35 innings) at Double-A so far in his career. If he made it to the Majors, it would likely be later in the season.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the Detroit Tigers prospects who could conceivably make the Opening Day roster.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park prior to the start of the opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Bryan Garcia

You could have made the argument for Garcia making his Major League debut in September after tearing through Detroit’s minor league system during the 2017 campaign.

Garcia allowed just 26 hits, 14 walks and seven earned runs compared to 66 strikeouts in 41.2 innings before reaching Toledo at the tail-end of the season.

The hard-throwing reliever proceeded to allow 10 hits, eight walks and six earned runs in 13.1 innings.

Still, it’s hard to deny his effectiveness. With a bullpen in flux, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him on the Opening Day unit.

Mike Gerber

Mike Gerber isn’t as toolsy as Daz Cameron or Derek Hill, but he’s made a name for himself by producing, producing and –wait for it—producing.

A capable defender who has experience at all three outfield spots, Gerber has yet to post a wRC+ below 116 in his time in the minors.

He reached Triple-A Toledo for the first time in 2017 after a strong campaign with Double-A Erie.

The outfielder hit .291 with a .363 on-base percentage, a .477 slugging percentage, 45 RBI, 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 10 stolen bases and two triples.

He kept it the offense in a brief spell with the Mud Hens to close out the year, logging eight hits, three runs scored, two doubles, two RBI and a triple in 20 plate appearances.

With JaCoby Jones failing to establish himself offensively in the Majors so far, Gerber could provide a better alternative at the plate.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 17: A detail of a Tiger statue sculpture on the tadium prior to the Detroit Tigers hosting the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 17, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Kody Eaves

Similar to Gerber, Eaves made the jump from Double-A to Triple-A this season thanks to some solid offensive work at Erie.

After hitting .222 with a .312 on-base percentage and a .422 slugging percentage in 376 plate appearances at the Double-A level in 2016, the 24-year-old turned things around this past season.

He hit .272 and upped both his on-base percentage (.343) and slugging percentage (.472) significantly.

Stats aren’t everything in the minors, but Eaves’ ability to adjust after a year in which he turned in a .694 OPS is a definite positive.

Able to play second base and third base, the ex-Anaheim farmhand has hit double-digit home runs in each of the last four season.

If he can continue that trend, he could be a long-term fit on Detroit’s roster.

In the event that Ian Kinsler, Jose Iglesias and Andrew Romine are all traded this winter, the 24-year-old deserves a shot at making the team as a utility player, if not more.

Paul Voelker

Another fast-rising reliever in Detroit’s farm system to make it to Toledo, Voelker’s numbers weren’t as flashy as Garcia’s, but he got the job done nonetheless.

In 36 inning split between Single-A Lakeland, Erie and Toledo, the hurler punched out 40 to go along with just nine walks and eight earned runs allowed.

He also registered seven saves while finishing 19 games.

Like many hard-throwing relievers, Voelker has a blazing fastball and a prominent off-speed pitch—a slider in this case.

Grayson Long

Similarly to Perez, Long found success at Double-A this season. Also similar to Perez, Long came to Detroit in one of the two August blockbuster trades.

Where Long differs from Perez is that he spent most of 2017 at the Double-A level.

One of two hurlers acquired from the Angels in the Justin Upton deal, the starter worked to a 3.01 ERA, a 1.199 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine frames in 137.2 innings for Mobile and Erie.

Next: Why the Tigers could be surprise WC contenders in next 2 years

If the Tigers don’t add any veteran free agent starters, Long could be a name to watch in the battle for the fifth starter’s role.

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Detroit Tigers: Five prospects you could see on the Opening Day roster in 2018