3 Detroit Minor-Leaguers Who Could See a Promotion Soon

There’s no doubt that the future of the Detroit Tigers is bright, and that has been very much evident based on the performances of some young talent littered throughout the minor league system.

The Detroit Tigers haven’t had much success in the big leagues in recent seasons, but that has allowed them with an opportunity to acquire some exceptional talent to mold the future of their roster. Guys like Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Derek Hill have all developed into nice players in the upper minors and there is sure to be a slew of talent following in their footsteps.

Jake Rogers, Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Akil Baddoo have now graduated from prospect status and a few draft picks from the 2019 and 2020 draft classes are making noise already early in the minor league season. Outside of the Mud Hens, who are a game under .500, the rest of the affiliates are at .500 or better. Another positive so far in the minor league season is two Whitecaps players were named High-A Central players of the week. Beau Brieske and Rey Rivera. 

Let’s dive into three players in the Tigers’ minor league system who could warrant promotion in the near future.

Number Two: Gage Workman

Gage Workman was a fourth-round pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2020 and their 2020 draft class is already looking like it’s going to pan out into something special. Gage Workman has been putting in work this season (no pun intended), and he could certainly warrant promotion from the Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps.

Workman, a 21-year-old third baseman, has displayed a consistent ability to put the ball in play with his bat in seemingly every at-bat and he has drawn nationwide attention with his torrid start. Workman, in the early going this season, has hit .288 with 23 hits, 11 RBI, two home runs, 16 runs, and six stolen bases. Workman has also done an excellent job of working himself on base as his average currently sits at .383 in that category.

Gage Workman has hit for the cycle already this season and Detroit’s number 12 overall prospect could see a leap up to High-A ball in the near future. If Workman continues to shine in the lower levels, I wouldn’t be surprised if a late-season call-up to Double-A Erie came to fruition.

Number Three: Elvin Rodriguez

Elvin Rodriguez has been a major spark for the Erie SeaWolves’ pitching staff this season, and it begins to raise questions surrounding how much longer the 23 year old right-handed pitcher will be in town. As a contributor from Erie, all the buzz around town has been about two guys; Riley Greene and Elvin Rodriguez. Rodriguez, oddly enough, was never drafted into the MLB but was added via a trade with the Los Angeles Angels back in 2017.

Elvin Rodriguez has been lights out in Erie this season and it’s hard to believe he’ll stick around for much longer. Rodriguez, prior to his last start, had two consecutive starts where he didn’t allow a base hit and he has been the ace of a rather efficient Erie pitching staff this season. Rodriguez has pitched 19.1 innings this season and has posted an earned run average of just 1.40 (good for second in the Double-A Northeast) and a WHIP of just 0.78.

Rodriguez has also posted a strikeout to walk ratio of 23 to 7, and he could be in line for a promotion to Triple-A in the near future. Elvin Rodriguez may not be a top 30 Detroit Tigers prospect according to the MLB, but he could wind up being one of the most underrated and promising pitchers to gain promotion to the big leagues for the Tigers in quite some time. I wouldn’t rule out a potential Elvin Rodriguez big league debut in 2021.