5 Detroit Tigers Double-A Players Worthy of a Promotion

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The Detroit Tigers have already begun to impress fans with their play in recent weeks, and with some outstanding talent playing well in Double-A Erie, they could be on the lookout to move some of their top talents to Triple-A Toledo.

When it comes to the development of the future of the Detroit Tigers, you should look no further than the Double-A Erie SeaWolves. The roster in Double-A Erie features nine of Detroit’s top 30 prospects, and for the first time in quite a while, they’re not all just pitching prospects.

The Erie SeaWolves may have one of the most gifted rosters in Double-A baseball across the country, as they currently roster two first-round picks and a lot of talent that seems ready for the big leagues. It won’t be much longer before we see some of these names shining in Double-A currently being productive with the Detroit Tigers, and a trip to the high ranks of Triple-A Toledo would put them one step closer.

Detroit Tigers Prospect Number One: Riley Greene

Riley Greene is one of the very few players in the Tigers’ minor league ranks who seems ready for the show. Riley Greene, Detroit’s 2019 first-round draft pick, has been electric with the bat and the glove in his debut Double-A season, and he seems like he could be running down fly balls in center field for the Detroit Tigers if they needed him to. While moving him all the way to the show seems unlikely for the 20-year-old, a trip to Triple-A Toledo could prove to be more likely.

Riley Greene, in 52 games in Double-A Erie this season, has hit .275, has an on-base percentage of .366, logged 55 base hits, scored 37 runs, hit nine home runs, and has garnered 29 RBI. Riley Greene was also recently selected to participate in the Futures Game, and his call-up to the highest level of the minor leagues could come soon after he plays in that game.

The Detroit Tigers currently have just three primary outfielders on the active roster in Robbie Grossman, Akil Badoo, and Nomar Mazara, and adding the bright young star in Riley Greene could give their outfield a lot of hope moving forward. Riley Greene, if he’s promoted to Triple-A Toledo this season, could man the Tigers’ outfield as soon as next season.

Detroit Tigers Prospect Number Two: Spencer Torkelson

Putting Spencer Torkelson on this list seems like a very obvious choice, as he would immediately enhance the lineup in Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers have done a nice job of not trying to rush their prospects up to the MLB before they’ve had adequate time to develop recently, but if they rush anybody a bit it should be Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson is in his first professional season after the 2020 minor league season was canceled, and he is already all the way up in Double-A after dominating the competition in the lower minors.

Torkelson is very versatile in the infield, as he can play both corners of the infield very well, and that could be a reason for him to warrant a call-up to the MLB within the next couple of years. While Torkelson has been very impressive at the Double-A level thus far, he has seen his fair share of struggles on the defensive end of the game a bit more than he typically does. More than likely, as long as Miguel Cabrera is still playing, Torkelson would spend the rest of this season in Double-A and start next season in Triple-A Toledo, that way he has plenty of time to hone in defensively and make a rather flawless transition to the Detroit Tigers when that time comes.

While Torkelson’s defense could use a bit of work at the third base position, his bat seems to be MLB ready. Torkelson, in 19 games in Double-A Erie, has logged 79 plate appearances, 18 hits, 11 runs, six home runs, and 13 RBI while hitting .273 and logging an on-base percentage of .380. Torkelson has had no issues getting on base in Double-A Erie, and that in large part is what helped him secure a spot in the MLB’s Futures Game this weekend.

Detroit Tigers Prospect Number Three: Ethan DeCaster

Ethan DeCaster isn’t a guy that gets nearly enough love as one of the best bullpen arms in the Tigers’ minor league system, but he should and could be a Detroit Tiger right now if he was given an opportunity. Ethan DeCaster was drafted in the 18th Round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, and he has done nothing but dominate in the minor league system ever since.

DeCaster has been the most reliable arm in the Detroit minor league bullpen for years now, and he is certainly worthy of a call-up to Triple-A Toledo. If there’s one thing Detroit loves but never seems to have, it’s reliable bullpen arms and they could have a good one in Ethan DeCaster. DeCaster, to put it quite simply, is a diamond in the rough and he could very well wind up being one of those “no-name” guys that thrive in Detroit.

DeCaster’s consistent play has been vastly overshadowed by the other impressive arms in the Tigers’ minor league system in recent years, but DeCaster deserves to be in that conversation. DeCaster, this season in Double-A Erie, has appeared in 13 games, logged 19.2 innings pitched, and has kept his ERA at a very impressive 0.46. DeCaster has a walk to strikeout ratio of 9:20 and has allowed an opposing batting average of just .156 on the season. It should be considered a crime that Ethan DeCaster is still playing in Double-A.

(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers Prospect Number Four: Andre Lipcius

Andre Lipcius is a second baseman and third baseman for the Detroit Tigers who is playing exceptionally well in Double-A Erie right now. Andre Lipcius, who was drafted in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Tennessee by the Detroit Tigers, may just be the best defensive infielder in the Tigers’ organization as a whole.

Andre Lipcius has been making web-gem style plays all season long for the Erie SeaWolves, and his great glove could be beneficial in Triple-A with the Mud Hens. While Lipcius has been flashing the leather this season, he has also been pretty reliable with the bat as well as he’s currently hitting .249 on the season with 48 hits, 31 runs, six home runs, and 30 RBI.

Lipcius has seen his batting average dip a bit in Double-A, but he makes up for his sometimes bleak offensive approach with his outstanding defensive abilities. Lipcius has made highlight-reel catches at both the third base and second base position, and if some room becomes available in Triple-A, we could see Lipcius receive a call-up to play in the highest branch of the minors.

Detroit Tigers Prospect Number Five: John Valente

This selection may come as a bit of a surprise, but one of the most reliable hitters in the Detroit Tigers’ organization all season long has been second baseman, John Valente. Not many people know too much about John Valente, but that is likely because he was a 21st Round Draft Pick out of St. John’s back in 2018 by the Detroit Tigers.

John Valente has the versatility to play second base, third base, or shortstop, and he has proven he can do so in Double-A Erie. Valente is one of the best pure hitters in Detroit’s system, and he currently has the fifth-highest batting average in the Double-A Northeast. Valente, this season, is hitting .320 with 47 hits, 14 runs, two home runs, 16 RBI, and he has even stolen nine bases.

John Valente is the spark of the Erie lineup, and he could be a dark horse candidate to move up to Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers value a high batting average, and John Valente has the highest of everyone in the Detroit Tigers’ system, even higher than his top prospect teammates that take away a lot of the hype surrounding John Valente.

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