FanSided

5 Detroit Tigers prospects who have raised their profiles

By Roger Castillo |
The Erie SeaWolves and Akron RubberDucks get ready to play May 13, 2021 at UPMC Park in Erie.P1seawolves051321
The Erie SeaWolves and Akron RubberDucks get ready to play May 13, 2021 at UPMC Park in Erie.P1seawolves051321
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While the big names down in Toledo such as Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson grab the headlines, there are few Detroit Tigers prospects to pay attention to in 2022.

This week is the final games of the season for Double-A Erie, High-A West Michigan, and Low-A Lakeland. For Detroit Tigers prospect fans, it is the end of some considerable growth in a system that will be under new supervision in 2022.

Detroit Tigers fans are already becoming familiar with the infielder Ryan Kriedler’s rise to Triple-A among Greene and Torkelson after making the jump from Low-A in 2019. The story done today by Lynn Henning in the Detroit News ($) showed how in 2020, Kriedler worked with hitting instructor Doug Latta.  Latta has been responsible for the swing changes of Derek Hill and Jake Rogers out of his headquarters in Northridge, California.

Kreidler has also recently seen time at third base, allowing for the Tigers to the positional versatility of Isaac Paredes and Kody Clemens, who has seen time elsewhere on the diamond down in Toledo.

While the Tigers’ previous top pitching prospects are now part of the starting rotation, 2021 allowed us to see a few names we may not have heard of before become more part of the Tigers minor league vernacular and could be more heard from next season. One ancient philosophy made this possible.

“Necessity is the mother of invention”- Plato

The July draft robbed us of a few debuts

With the draft being held in July, we as fans were robbed of the opportunity to see 1st round draft picks Jackson Jobe and Ty Madden pitch but did present a glimpse into how the farm system will stack up going forward with several pitchers being moved up because of necessity.

What seems to be coming up over the horizon is that a few names that have been staples in the system could be seeing new places in 2022. Let’s start with three names who have helped their case in 2020 stand out a bit.

The Erie SeaWolves and Akron RubberDucks get ready to play May 13, 2021 at UPMC Park in Erie.P1seawolves051321
The Erie SeaWolves and Akron RubberDucks get ready to play May 13, 2021 at UPMC Park in Erie.P1seawolves051321 /

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Eric De La Rosa:

Drafted in the 7th round in the 2018 draft, Eric De La Rosa struggled in making consistent contact. He showed little power and plate discipline and his own words, was trying to find his identity as a ballplayer.

In getting to know De La Rosa, the work he put into getting better showed starting in Lakeland. His approach at the plate was much focused as in 16 games in Lakeland, the 24-year-old showed he belonged at High-A, putting up a slash line of .276/.391/.41 with a wRC+ of 126 for the Flying Tigers before getting called up to High-A West Michigan and he continued to produce.

In 208 at-bats at West Michigan, De La Rosa was able to steal 22 bases, hit .293/.373/.462, and provided one of the most memorable moments in Whitecaps history with their first walk-off home run in nearly a decade.

His .ISO number grew just a bit at West Michigan but he was still striking out at around 30% but was still getting on base as he produced a .851 OPS from July 22nd until August 10th with a wRC+ of 132 before he got the call up to Erie.

Since his call up to Double-A, he is striking out just around 25.6%, walking almost a 9% clip, and increasing his .ISO to 227 in 75 at-bats so far.

If he can show he can hit spin and use his speed effectively in 2022, De La Rosa could continue to increase his ceiling.  De La Rosa’s rise through the system should be noted as one that was rather unexpected but a welcomed sight.

John Valente of the Erie SeaWolves is shown Aug. 12 at UPMC Park before a game against the Altoona Curve.P3seawolves081221
John Valente of the Erie SeaWolves is shown Aug. 12 at UPMC Park before a game against the Altoona Curve.P3seawolves081221 /

Detroit Tigers infielder prospect John Valente

The right-handed hitting Valente was drafted in the 21st round out of St John’s in 2018 and all he has done at every level is hit. While he may be considered “aged out” in terms of prospect status as he just turned 26, with the lost year of 2020, Valente at every level has hit.

Freep columnist Jeff Seidel did a story about him back in June ($) and when Chris and I spoke to the voice of the Erie SeaWolves Greg Gange on our Tigers podcast, he said Valente was one of the most consistent hitters in Erie. “Johnny 300” was among the team leaders in batting average with a slash line of .301/.363/.445 with a walk rate of 7.6% and a K rate of 13.5%.

Prior to his injury that has kept him sidelined since August 18th, he had a hot month of August, going 14-for-40 (.350). He showed some pretty steady defense as well.

Because of his age, he may not appear on any prospect lists but he is Rule 5 eligible in 2021. He has produced at each stop and has performed better than anyone could have predicted for a 21st round draft pick.

Infielder Yariel Gonzalez

Erie SeaWolves batter Yariel Gonzalez fouls off a Harrisburg Senators pitch on Sept. 1, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie. A few pitches later, he hit a two-run single in the nine-run fifth inning.P2seawolves090121
Erie SeaWolves batter Yariel Gonzalez fouls off a Harrisburg Senators pitch on Sept. 1, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie. A few pitches later, he hit a two-run single in the nine-run fifth inning.P2seawolves090121 /

I wrote about Gonzalez, who falls into “organizational player”  because he has not been mentioned in prospect circles, between Erie and Toledo, put up solid numbers this season. The swing changes from his time in St.Louis’s system to here showed more drive on his swing follow-through.

He may not be in the system in 2022 but overall, I feel he has risen his profile a bit this season based on his numbers and increase in his .ISO. 

Erie SeaWolves starting pitcher Garrett Hill throws against the Harrisburg Senators on Sept. 1, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P7seawolves090121
Erie SeaWolves starting pitcher Garrett Hill throws against the Harrisburg Senators on Sept. 1, 2021, at UPMC Park in Erie.P7seawolves090121 /

Detroit Tigers Prospect RHP Garrett Hill

Hill, another late-round draft pick from 2018, this time in the 26th round out of San Diego State saw an increase in his K rate from 2019.

With injuries to Paul Richan, Max Green, and the call ups of Mark Leiter Jr and Richard Pinto to Toledo, Hill emerged from West Michigan with solid numbers and stepped into the SeaWolves’ rotation seamlessly in just three starts. So far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.07 (FIP of 3.41) with 20 strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.

Combined that with his numbers at West Michigan, he has a K per 9 of 11.59 with a BB per 9 of 3.44.  (91K in 70.2 IP) and has only three home runs so far between High-A and Double-A.

He features a fastball, slider, and a changeup.  While he did miss a few starts due to a trip to the IL in June, the fact he adjusted quickly to Double-A so far with an impressive first-strike rate of 58.6%, will be interested in seeing what the Tigers will do in the winter as he is Rule 5 eligible.

RHP Beau Brieske

Another late-round gem, this time in 2019 in the 27th round out of Colorado State University-Pueblo, Brieske in 20 starts, over 100 innings, has 112 strikeouts and 23 walks with an ERA of 3.31 and a FIP of 3.23.  It isn’t just us who has noticed his rise. 

Both pitchers have given the Tigers much-needed starter depth in the minors.

Honorable Mentions:

  • OF Austin Murr (16 game hitting streak for West Michigan) 2021 6th round draft pick of NC State is making a name for himself quickly.
  • C Eliezer Alfonzo: Since being recalled up to West Michigan on August 24th, after struggling earlier in the year, Alfonzo has batted .370 (20-for-54)
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