Detroit Tigers Minor League Report: Week 7

The Detroit Tigers are in rebuilding mode. “Future Friday” is a segment where we examine the bevy of prospects in the organization and their future impact in the Motor City.

The last few weeks have featured numerous transactions for the Detroit Tigers and their affiliates. This week was a little lighter on that front, but there’s still plenty to talk about in this week’s Minor League Report.

Toledo Mud Hens

The Mud Hens continue to cruise along atop the International League West. After a 4-2 week, Toledo is 30-15 for the year. Yesterday’s win over Columbus (Cleveland), made the Mud Hens the second team in all of MiLB to reach 30 wins in 2018.

Jeimer Nearing Return

Of the few moves the Detroit Tigers did make this week, the most notable was to send third baseman Jeimer Candelario on a rehab assignment to Toledo. After an 0-for-4 effort in his first game back Wednesday, Candelario picked up a pair of hits and drove in a run Thursday.

When a position player is sent out on a minor league rehab assignment, he can stay there for up to 20 days. It appears Candelario won’t need that much time, as he reportedly could return to the Tigers as soon as this weekend.

Hot Hens Bats

Toledo’s lineup has been hot lately, including a 15-hit performance last Friday, in which every Hen recorded at least one hit and scored a run. One of the hottest hitters as of late has been utility man Ronny Rodriguez.

Rodriguez had four hits Thursday, and leads the International League with 53. He had an 18-game hitting streak snapped on Tuesday, the longest streak posted by a Detroit Tigers minor leaguer this year. While Niko Goodrum is holding down the Tigers utility role for now, don’t be surprised to see Rodriguez up at some point.

Chad Huffman has been having a solid year for the Mud Hens as well, but exploded yesterday. A minor league free agent signing in the offseason, Huffman hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and drove in seven. It was the first time a Toledo batter had driven in seven in over six years:

Dark Horse September Callup?

A lot of shuffling has been going on with the Toledo staff this year as the Tigers send guys back-and-forth. One constant has been right-hander A.J. Ladwig. The 2014 11th rounder has started five games, and been used as a long reliever in two others.

Ladwig has been consistent no matter the role, going at least five innings in each start, and only surrendering more than three runs once. His strikeout rate is merely 6.8/9, but he’s made up for it by limiting walks to 1.9/9.

There are plenty of other right-handed pitchers in the organization who are more highly-touted than Ladwig. However, if the Tigers brass feels those prospects need more marinating in the minors and don’t want to start their service clocks, Ladwig would be a prime candidate to eat up innings in September.

As Adam McIntosh pointed out earlier this week, left-handed knuckleballer Josh Turley could be in position to reach Detroit in September, too.