Detroit Tigers: 7 players competing in Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League starts today and provides a great place for prospects to gain experience, here are the players from the Detroit Tigers organization.

It’s September and that means the Arizona Fall League is starting up again. This league is a six-team developmental league and presents great opportunities for prospects to play against other prospects to gain valuable experience for their future in baseball. The Detroit Tigers have seven players headed to the league, and here’s some information on them.

1. Isaac Paredes

Paredes is the biggest name on the list of those heading to the Arizona Fall League for Detroit. He slashed .282/.368/.416 with 13 home runs this year in Erie. The 20-year-old middle infielder has looked like a promising talent in the organization thus far, and the fall league will further help his development.

2. Anthony Castro

Castro is a 24-year-old pitcher for double-A Erie. He looked alright in 2019, posting a 5-3 record with a 4.40 ERA, but he definitely has room for improvement. Castro is still young and has the potential to climb the ladder and reach the majors if he is able to limit his walks and gain a better command of the strike zone.

3. Alex Lange

Lange is another pitcher in the organization. He did a small stint in Erie this season where he pitched 15.2 innings with a 4.02 ERA and a 2-1 record. The 23-year-old righty will probably get more opportunities next year and can heavily benefit from the fall league.

4. Wladimir Pinto

Pinto is a 21-year-old righty who also saw some time in double-A. In Erie, he pitched 28.0 innings with a 2.57 ERA. His numbers indicate that he could have a bright future with the organization, but a bigger sample size is definitely necessary. His performance in the fall league could go a long way in determining where he ends up next year.

5. Trent Szkutnik

Szkutnik is a lefty who just turned 26. He has not had the greatest minor league career up to this point, but he still has a chance to make it to the bigs if he can get things together while he is still in his prime. He had a 4.30 ERA over 46.0 innings in Erie this season and will look to touch up his skills in the fall league.

6. Jose Azocar

Azocar was a top prospect at one point, but never quite lived up to expectations. He is only 23, however, and still has a chance to be a great talent. He is eligible to be a minor league free agent, so the organization will have to make a choice whether to resign him or not, and his performance in the fall league could help them make this decision.

7. Derek Hill 

Hill is a 25-year-old centerfielder who hasn’t been overly impressive at Erie. He slashed .243/.311/.394 with 14 home runs this season. Being behind JaCoby Jones and Daz Cameron in the organization won’t make his job any easier either. He needs all the experience and practice he can get if he wants to move up.

These seven players will all be looking to improve and try to make it to the majors at some point in their careers, and the Arizona Fall League will be an exciting way for them to develop. More information on the league, including the teams and the schedule, can be found on the official site. Make sure to stay tuned for updates on the Detroit Tigers’ players in the league.