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Detroit Tigers Land 3 Prospects in Baseball America’s Top 20

By Roger Castillo

LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Riley Greene #59 of the Detroit Tigers runs the bases during the Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Riley Greene #59 of the Detroit Tigers runs the bases during the Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 28, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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For the first time ever, the Detroit Tigers land 3 prospects in the latest Baseball America’s Top 100.

While Al Avila is speaking to the media this morning about the plans for the 2020 season, some good news came out today in regards to the future of the Detroit Tigers. On the latest Baseball America Top 100 prospect list ($) Detroit landed three players in the top 20, and five players overall (all in the top 60).

At the end of 2019, Casey Mize was ranked 8th, Matt Manning 18th, Riley Greene 50th, and Tarik Skubal was ranked 77th. At various points in 2019, Issac Parades was on the list. Let’s take a look at the newest Tiger to join this talented bunch.

Spencer Torkelson: Number 11

Torkelson is expected to join the organization on Monday. His hitting tools cannot be ignored. With a 60-grade hit tool and top-of-the-scale, 80-grade power, it is easy to see why he ranks so high on their list. Whether he sticks at third base or returns to his college position of first base, he should be an easy taxi squad addition for the Tigers.

Casey Mize: Number 14

Shoulder soreness put a damper on Mize’s second half last year, but if he’s healthy now, and if his secondary pitches are as good now as they were when he dominated the minors early last season, he could see a spot start or two this season. However, I would prefer to see him get ready for spring training  2021. His command is ahead of schedule, with just 26 walks in 123 innings pitched so far in his career.

Matt Manning: Number 19

Manning dropped one spot in the BA rankings. He did hire Scott Boras as his agent in the offseason, so he may be close to hitting the Tigers’ rotation soon. He dominated Erie last season, with 148Ks in 133.2 innings pitched, with an impressive 0.98 WHIP in 24 starts.

Tarik Skubal: Number 36

Skubal took the biggest leap forward in BA’s top 100, going from 77 to 36. It helps that Skubal had a K rate of 17.4 per 9 in Double-A Erie, and he has shown above-average control, with just 41 walks in 145 innings pitched so far in his minor-league career. We got a glimpse of Skubal in spring training, and it would be nice to see him again in a Detroit Tigers uniform before the end of the season.

Riley Greene: Number 52

I had a chance to watch Greene play twice at West Michigan last season. His approach at the plate, along with defensive prowess, should give Tigers’ fans hope. He was very advanced for a 19-year-old, and he also made some noise in spring training.

If this is a good indication of the future for the Detroit Tigers, remember this: the Kansas City Royals had four players in Baseball America’s top 20 in 2011, with Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Will Myers, John Lamb, and Mike Montgomery. Overall, they had 9 in the top 100 that season. I think Royals fans were pretty happy with the result.

Shoutout to Chris Brown for the research assistance on this piece.

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