Detroit Tigers: Midseason Top 30 Prospects

20. Bryan Garcia, RHP

Highest: 16 Lowest: 30

Age: 23

Level: N/A

Stats: N/A

Missing all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, Garcia has the pedigree and makeup to move quickly back through the system once he is healthy. Drafted out of the University of Miami as a closer, Garcia holds three plus pitches, and made it all the way to Toledo in 2017, his first full season. While Joe Jimenez may be the closer of the future, Garcia could provide the Tigers a strong setup option and a plan b should Jimenez not work out. – SF

19. Grayson Long, RHP

Highest: 18 Lowest: 25

Age: 24

Level: N/A

Stats: N/A

Long has not played this season after undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome in May. He still profiles as back of the rotation starter, although his timeline is significantly altered by this injury. The former third-round pick was Detroit’s primary return for Justin Upton. He had a 2.52 ERA and an 8.21 K/9 in 23 starts at Double-A last season, and is still relatively young at 24.

18. Rey Rivera, 1B

Highest: 16 Lowest: 22

Age: 21

Level: A

Stats: .265/.335/.462 with 8 home runs in 78 games at A-ball

Fans were shocked and apprehensive when the Tigers made little-known Rey Rivera a second-round pick in 2017. He did little to ease that concern following his selection, hitting just .187 in 52 games in short-season ball.

However, 2018 has been a different story for the slugging first baseman, who is slashing .265/.335/.462 with eight home runs in 78 games at Single-A. He’s a big (6’6, 250) left-handed hitter with a ton of power, and could emerge as Detroit’s first baseman of the future if he can keep his strikeouts down.

17. Sergio Alcantara, SS

Highest: 13 Lowest: 23

Age: 22

Level: AA

Stats: .291/.350/.355 with eight stolen bases in 86 games at Double-A

Alcantara, acquired in the J.D. Martinez trade last summer, is an elite fielding shortstop prospect. In fact, he’s Detroit’s most shortstop-ready prospect, profiling as a glove-first, light hitting shortstop (a la Jose Iglesias). His bat has started to come around, with a solid .291/.350/.355 line and eight steals. He’ll need to develop at least a tiny bit of power (0 home runs this season) but he is Detroit’s best pure SS prospect.

16. Matt Hall, LHP

Highest: 16 Lowest: 20

Age: 24

Level: AA/AAA

Stats: 1.58 ERA, 12.00 K/9 in 57 innings at Double-A

24-year-old left-hander Matt Hall just received a promotion to Triple-A after an outstanding run in Erie’s bullpen. Hall posted a 1.58 ERA with a 12.00 K/9 in 57 innings, making 27 appearances – 23 out of the bullpen and four starts.

He will probably end up as a bullpen piece in the big leagues, where his 60-grade changeup will play up well in a middle relief role.