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Detroit Tigers announce prospects added to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 draft

By Ben Rosener |
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)
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)
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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, 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 now know which prospects have been added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft, according to a tweet from the team’s official Public Relations Twitter account.

Detroit Tigers prospects Grayson Greiner, Mike Gerber, Gregory Soto, Gerson Moreno, Spencer Turnbull, Eduardo Jimenez and Sergio Alcantara have all been added to the team’s 40-man roster.

The Tigers announced the move in a tweet on the team’s official Public Relations Twitter account.

Greiner, a catcher, and Gerber, an outfielder, seems like the most likely to make it to the Majors and make an impact in Detroit next season.

The former essentially replaces Bryan Holaday as the franchise’s third catcher.

In 388 plate appearances for Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo last season, the 25-year-old swatted 21 doubles and 14 home runs to go along with 44 RBI and 34 runs scored.

If the Tigers are forced to rely on James McCann’s primary backup, John Hicks, at another position like first base or designated hitter, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Greiner deputize.

At the very least, he seems a lock to receive a call up in September when rosters expand as a third catcher, if not sooner should McCann or Hicks go on the disabled list.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A wide view 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)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A wide view 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) /

Mike Gerber

Meanwhile, Gerber’s path to Major League playing time is a bit clearer.

While he’s only played four games at the Triple-A level, Gerber had a strong campaign in 2017, notching an .869 OPS, 69 runs scored, 50 RBI, 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 10 stolen bases and three triples.

Capable of playing all three outfield spots, Gerber could provide an offensive compliment to JaCoby Jones in center field.

The former 15th-round pick could also fill in as a right fielder if Nicholas Castellanos moves to a different position full time.

Gerson Moreno

Of the rest of the prospects, the next closest to the Majors is Moreno, who reached Double-A as a 22-year-old in 2017.

It was very much a tale of two seasons for the hard throwing right hander.

Moreno struck out 30 compared to just 19 hits, eight walks, five earned runs and a home run allowed in 22.1 innings for Advanced-A Lakeland, where the competition was on average 2.1 year solder than him.

The hard-throwing reliever then allowed 23 hits, 20 runs, 17 walks and four home runs in 28 frames for Erie against competition that was on average 3.3 years older than him.

That being said, he continued to miss bats with 36 strikeouts in a SeaWolves uniform.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: A detail of a Detroit Tigers hat with an official postseason logo is seen on the bat rack in the udgout againstthe New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: A detail of a Detroit Tigers hat with an official postseason logo is seen on the bat rack in the udgout againstthe New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Spencer Turnbull

Turnbull could also find himself in the Majors sometime in the near future. A second-round draft choice in 2014, the starter has been limited by injuries at times, but bounced back in 2017 to join Moreno with Erie.

All told, the right-hander pitched to a 3.70 ERA, a 1.188 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 112 innings spanning 21 starts. At each one of his three stops this season, Turnbull’s FIP checked in below 3.40.

The other three prospects added to the 40-man roster all finished the season at Advanced-A Lakeland.

Soto, Jimenez and Alcantara

Soto, a starting pitcher, struck out 10.5 batters per nine frames. He notched identical 2.25 ERAs with both Single-A West Michigan and Lakeland.

Long-term, the hard-throwing southpaw could factor into the Detroit Tigers rotation picture.

Jimenez also pitched for the Whitecaps and Flying Tigers last season. A right-handed reliever, Jimenez notched a 2.13 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. He finished 20 games, registering 12 saves and a 1.125 WHIP in the process.

Rounding out the group is Sergio Alcantara, who was acquired in the J.D. Martinez trade July. A slick-fielding shortstop, Alcantara hit .266 with a .334 on-base percentage, a .339 slugging percentage and a .673 OPS in 521 plate appearances for Arizona’s Advanced-A affiliate in Visalia and Lakeland.

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He chipped in with 62 runs scored, 35 RBI, 19 doubles, 15 stolen bases, three triples and three home runs.

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