Detroit Tigers: 5 Double-A Erie prospects who should be promoted

The Double-A affiliates of the Detroit Tigers, the Erie SeaWolves, are sitting pretty with a 20-10 win-loss record and just a mere 2.5 games behind Baltimore’s Double-A affiliate, the Bowie Baysox; and there is a lot of talent worthy of a promotion to Triple-A Toledo.

The Erie SeaWolves are a veteran team this season with a mix of minor league free agents and intriguing new prospects on the roster.

Our number one prospect on the Motor City Bengals Top 20 list, Riley Greene, is off to a good start and so is Andre Lipcius, who has homered in two straight games since his call up from the West Michigan Whitecaps.

While many of the guys on this list are certainly worthy of a promotion in their current state, the minor leagues have a process that has to be followed and many of these guys may not get the call-up until later this season.

Erie has been a grooming spot for some of the next Detroit stars with the recent emergence of guys like Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Derek Hill; and some of these guys could be the next batch of talent in the show. Let’s take a look at five Double-A Erie players who are worthy of a promotion.

Detroit Tigers prospect to promote no 1: Ethan DeCaster

When you think of some of the pitchers the Detroit Tigers have littered throughout their minor league system, one of the first names you think of probably isn’t relief pitcher Ethan DeCaster, but he is certainly having a season worthy of that type of attention. DeCaster came to the Detroit Tigers as an 18th round selection in the 2018 MLB Draft, but has certainly exceeded expectations this season.

Back in 2019, Ethan DeCaster was a frequent flier to Triple-A Toledo, as he was optioned to the highest level of the minors four times that season. DeCaster has all the tools you look for in a bullpen arm; a low WHIP, a dominant approach, and an ERA without a blemish. DeCaster, in Double-A Erie this season, has posted a 0.00 ERA through 12.2 innings pitched while posing 16 strikeouts and a WHIP of just 0.95.

Ethan DeCaster may not be the biggest name in the Tigers’ minor league from the bullpen, but he is certainly a guy worth some consideration for a call-up to Triple-A Toledo. DeCaster has the tools to be a good bullpen arm that could benefit the big league ball club later in the season if need be.