Detroit Tigers Top 20 Prospects: Midseason Update

Detroit Tigers Prospects Who Rose

Andre Lipcius – IF – Off the list to 20

There may not be a more unassuming prospect in the Detroit Tigers system than Andre Lipcius. There isn’t anything particularly flashy about his game, and he may not have a single above-average tool, but Lipcius is a patient hitter who puts together consistent at-bats and has enough power to punish mistakes. He’s also very reliable on defense, regardless of which infield position he’s asked to handle.

Cristian Santana – IF – Off the list to 18

The Detroit Tigers’ top international signing from the 2020 class (though not signed until January 2021), Christian Santana has already found his way near the top of many Tigers prospect lists. We’re a bit more cautious with kids who haven’t played in the United States yet, but Santana is performing pretty well early in the Dominican Summer League season.

Ryan Kreidler – IF – Off the list to 17

Detroit’s 4th rounder in 2019, Ryan Kreidler was a bit of a surprise addition to spring training camp this year. And then he was a somewhat surprising addition to the alternate training site. And then he earned a surprising assignment to Double-A Erie. At some point it’s on us to stop being surprised. Kreidler has played shortstop and batted in the #2 hole in Erie’s lineup all year, and he has handled the jump in competition fairly well. His high strikeout rate is a concern, but he’s batting .250 with 13 home runs, and he has a chance to carve out a role as a utility infielder at the MLB level.

Dillon Dingler – C – Up 5

Dillon Dingler isn’t the biggest riser on our board, but his climb is probably the most important for the overall health of the system. Detroit’s 2nd rounder in 2020 was regarded by many as a first-round talent, but it was hard to rank him higher than we did with such a limited track record. He wasted little time proving his ability on both sides of the ball, and quickly earned a promotion to Double-A Erie. His bat has cooled considerably with the SeaWolves, but the talent is still there, and he’s still showing the potential to be a plus defender behind the plate.

Roberto Campos – OF – Up 6

Ranking Roberto Campos on any prospect list before this season was an exercise in faith, as few people outside of the Detroit Tigers organization had ever seen him play.  But he finally took the field this year, hit a home run in his first pro at-bat, and earned some impressive reviews from evaluators. His stats don’t jump off the page, but the tools certainly seem to be here.

Gage Workman – IF – Up 7

You may notice a pattern in our final few risers. Gage Workman was another 2020 draftee who had yet to play in pro ball, so we hedged our bets a bit. He showed above-average offensive ability while playing a passable shortstop in Low-A Lakeland, and he recently earned a promotion to High-A West Michigan. He is struggling mightily with the Whitecaps right now, so the rise up the ranks may not stick, but he’s still showing the raw tools to justify a lofty ranking.

Colt Keith – IF – Up 10

The run of 2020 draft picks concludes with Colt Keith, Detroit’s 5th rounder from last year. Keith hasn’t played much, and he’s currently on the Injured List, but he has performed well for his age while showing impressive tools and an advanced feel for the game. He’s one of the most exciting prospects in the system.