Detroit Tigers: The Top Prospects of 2023

Projecting the best Detroit Tigers prospects three years in advance.

If you follow baseball prospects, you know exactly where to find the ranking lists most people use as a guide. The listings at Baseball America and MLB Pipeline are the most well-known Top 30 rankings. Meanwhile, analytically-minded sites like Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus have developed lists as well – as have many others. No matter what list you look at, prospects eventually graduate into big leaguers. Ideally, current  Detroit Tigers top minor league talents like Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Spencer Torkelson, Tarik Skubal, and even Riley Greene will be in the big leagues before 2023 if all goes according to plan. As time goes on, the Tigers will need a new batch of young players to move up and occupy those spots. Follow the links ahead to see how the Top 5 Tigers prospects sort themselves out as we begin the 2023 MLB Season. We’ll start with one player currently in the system who sits just outside the Top 5 as a bonus.

Just Missed

6. SP Joey Wentz

Current Tigers MLB Pipeline Prospect Ranking: 8

When the  Detroit Tigers dealt reliever Shane Greene to Atlanta, the Tigers figured Wentz would be hitting the big leagues sooner than 2023, but Tommy John surgery put Wentz’ accelerated timetable on hold. In a display of patience by the club, Wentz rediscovered his control and bounced back to post impressive 2022 second-half numbers in Toledo. The now 25-year old is fully recovered and even more effective than he was before surgery. Beginning the season with early success in Toledo could easily make him the first pitcher called up to help the big-league rotation.

The Top 5

5. OF Roberto Campos

Current Tigers MLB Pipeline Prospect Ranking: 19

Campos, who was a mystery to many when signed, has grown into the best power hitter in the minors and has the makings of a successful international signing for a Tigers team that has desperately needed them.

During his time in the MiLB lower levels, the native of Cuba caught the attention of prospect followers everywhere by leading his league in home runs.

When signed, Campos drew comparisons to former Tiger Avisail Garcia as a teenager, but the now 20-year old slugger is likened to Royals outfielder Jorge Soler, who finally broke out with a career-best 48 home runs and 117 RBIs in 2019.

In a piece for MLB Pipeline, Jim Callis selected Campos among his “30 prospects we’ll be talking about in 2022’. Campos begins 2023 heading to Double-A for his biggest test yet.

4. OF Dylan Brewer, Clemson

MLB Pipeline Top 100 Overall Rating: 84

Current Tigers Prospect Ranking: N/A

Perfect Game College 2021 Prospect 100 Rank: 10

Let’s get weird. Brewer, drafted in the 32nd Round by the newly appointed Farhan Zaidi and the San Francisco Giants in 2019, chose not to sign and play college ball at Clemson.

Three years later, Brewer becomes the Tigers’ latest first-rounder as Detroit selected the talented outfielder with the ninth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. As a 19-year-old true freshman back in 2020, Brewer posted a .413 on-base percentage before helping the 2022 Clemson Tigers make the College World Series for the first time in over a decade.

Brewer, now 22 years old, enjoyed an outstanding performance to vault him even higher up the draft’s top prospects. The Tigers were thrilled to pick up its newest impact bat when he fell to Detroit’s selection at nine.

1. SP Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt

MLB Pipeline Top 100 Overall Rating: 27

Current Tigers Prospect Ranking: N/A

Perfect Game College 2021 Prospect 100 Rank: 7

The Tigers’ top prospect three years from now is likely not in the system, as almost always the top prospects consist of the club’s most recent first-round picks. In this scenario, the Tigers’ top prospect comes from a family extremely familiar to Major League Baseball.

Jack’s father, Al (currently an analyst on MLB Network), played nearly 20 years at the highest level, while his uncle Mark played 11 seasons, including three with the Tigers. Jack’s cousin, Mark Jr., also played recently with the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.

The newest Leiter teamed with 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates first overall pick Kumar Rocker to form the most prolific pitching tandem in college baseball to be drafted just four picks later at 5th overall by Detroit.

Leiter, the first pitcher the Tigers have selected within the first six draft rounds since 2018, has pitched well and is on the fast track to the big leagues. Leiter will open the season with Wentz and Dingler in Toledo.

Summary

Assuming Torkelson signs, the Tigers will soon hold five prospects within the consensus Top 100 (not to mention the Top 50). The determining factor for this rebuild hinges on Detroit’s Player Development to mold the next wave of talent behind the big names already in the majors.

As we’ve seen in this exercise, the Tigers would now hold *four* brand-new consensus Top 100 Prospects, giving the club a genuine chance to become contenders when it comes time to blend their young players with the necessary free agents to fill the remaining holes. With help in the big leagues and more on the way, 2023 could be the year that makes the long and challenging rebuild worthwhile for Tigers fans.

Don’t be afraid to call your shot. How will the Top Tigers prospects look as we begin the 2023 season? Leave your rankings below and find Dan on Twitter at @ThatDanHasty!