Detroit Tigers: Top 5 Futures Game Alumni

The All-Star Futures Game is set for July 11th and Detroit Tigers Top Prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene were named to the  American League Roster. We look back at the best Tigers prospects to play in the (Junior) Midsummer Classic.

Future Detroit Tigers Infielder Spencer Torkelson and Center Fielder Riley Greene have paired up in Double-A Ball to play for the Erie Seawolves and are making noise. Torkelson, considered to be the third-best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, is slashing .290/.407/.542 across 43 games split between Single-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie. In 12 games for Erie, Torkelson has already mashed 3 home runs and driven in 9 runs, flashing his middle-of-lineup potential. The following video displays a “Tork-Bomb” off the scoreboard in a game against the Akron Rubberducks.

In the meantime, MLB.com’s fifteenth overall prospect Riley Greene has been lighting up the Double-A circuit all season, slashing a steady .284/.376/.483. He has provided power to the tune of eight home runs and 28 RBIs. Not limiting himself, he has also shown dazzling speed with eight stolen bases and two triples on the season. Greene recently had a four-hit evening against the Reading Fightin’ Phils, including this double that was ripped into left-center field.

It is evident that Torkelson and Greene are cornerstones of the Detroit Tigers’ future, but let’s look back at the top five former top prospects who were members of the Futures Game.

Coming in at Number 5 is Joe Jimenez, who represented the World Team in 2015 and 2016.

Joe Jimenez has been an enigma for the Detroit Tigers, with the undeniable highlight of his career being an All-Star Game appearance at age 23. Jimenez has been up-and-down for the club since then, posting an ERA above 4.00 for his first two seasons and hovering around 7.00 over the last two. He had a rough start to 2021 before being more effective as of late, allowing just four runs over the month of June en route to two victories and a 4.32 ERA. It is unlikely he will return to All-Star form, but the Tigers hope Jimenez can become a middle-inning pitcher who can plug in the gaps for the bullpen.

In his first Futures Game outing, Jimenez recorded 0.2 innings of action, retiring both batters he faced, including a strikeout of future All-Star Aaron Judge. In his second outing, Jimenez retired the only batter he faced, Chance Sisco.

Joe Jimenez has always had the stuff to succeed as a Major League pitcher but has rarely seemed to put it all together for a sustainable amount of time. Here is a clip of him striking out Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Acuna Jr. to show why he could be an impactful big leaguer.

Former Tigers catcher James McCann appears at Number 4, who represented Team USA in 2013.

James McCann holds a slight edge over Joe Jimenez, including a much better WAR over his Tigers career, coming in at 2.2 vs Jimenez’s -0.2 career mark. In addition to sabermetrics, McCann appeared in 452 games for the Tigers, posting a mediocre .240 batting average while playing average defense behind the plate for the club. The Tigers’ competitive window was closing as McCann broke in, but he was a member of the team’s last winning season in 2016, starting 105 games and knocking in 48 runs.

In the 2013 version of the Futures Game, McCann’s only action was one at-bat that resulted in a ground out to third.

McCann’s tenure in Detroit may be best remembered by his fight in the dugout with Jose Iglesias, but featured below is him knocking a first-inning grand slam against the Minnesota Twins.

Since leaving Detroit, McCann has been much better, including an appearance in the 2019 All-Star game as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He is currently a member of the New York Mets and has returned to his production levels from his time with the Tigers.

Lifelong Tiger and Fan Favorite Brandon Inge comes in at Number Three, representing Team USA in 2000.

Brandon Inge was a steady figure on the Detroit Tigers from 2001 until 2012, including playing a pivotal role on the 2006 American League Championship team. Inge played in 1408 games over his twelve years with the organization, posting a WAR of 18.6 and playing in 23 postseason games. Inge was a jack of all trades who could play just about any position on the field. He began his tenure as a catcher but appeared as a third baseman and outfielder at times. Inge was an All-Star in 2009, hitting 27 home runs and driving in 84 runs. He also appeared in the Home Run Derby and promptly posted a goose egg at the event. Inge flashed power throughout his career, hitting double-digit home runs in eight of his thirteen seasons. His hard-nosed attitude won over fans and he was a large part of the winning culture during the Tigers’ heyday.

Inge played a large role in the Tigers postseason run in 2011, including this game-tying shot to left field off Alexi Ogando.

Brandon Inge will forever be engrained in the minds and hearts of Tigers fans from the early 2000s era of baseball, and he is deserving of a place on the list of best Tigers players who played in the Futures Game.

Coming in at the top spot on this list is future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, who represented Team USA in 2005.

Starting Pitcher Justin Verlander coming in at Number 1 on this list should come as a surprise to no one. A quick rundown of his accolades includes Rookie of the Year, two Cy Young awards, an MVP award, and eight All-Star Nominations, along with 226 wins and a 3.33 career ERA. Verlander has been one of the best pitchers of this era and was the man in Detroit for many years. He played 13 seasons in Detroit, making the playoffs five times, including two runs to the World Series. He will always be remembered for two electric Game Five performances against the Oakland Athletics, proving himself to be the best pitcher in baseball at the time by shutting them out of the playoffs in back-to-back years.

In his Futures Game performance, Verlander dominated by tossing a scoreless first inning, cementing himself as the future of the Detroit Tigers.

We all know what Justin Verlander has meant to the Detroit Tigers, so sit back and enjoy this video of Verlander being incredibly dominant in the final inning of his no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers.

There have been rumblings that he may return to Detroit, so a comeback could be in store for the former Detroit ace.

For now, let’s hope the young prospects pan out and Detroit baseball becomes competitive again.