Detroit Tigers: 15 players who could go to the Arizona Fall League

Detroit Tigers Arizona Fall League Options: Injured Players

Dillon Dingler

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 50%

Dillon Dingler looked like a top-100 prospect for the first few months of the season. He was excellent in High-A, and then got off to a fantastic start with Double-A Erie, only to slam into the wall. Then he missed several weeks with a broken hand, and he never really got back on track. Catching is incredibly grueling, and from the outside Dingler just looked exhausted, but learning to play through that is part of the gig. It certainly wouldn’t hurt him to get some more at-bats against quality pitching, but even more important, he needs to get behind the plate and catch some future big-league arms, because he didn’t get many chances to do that this year.

Cooper Johnson

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 50%

Cooper Johnson’s offensive numbers are ugly, there’s no denying that, but he remains a terrific defensive catcher with all the tools to be a big-league backup. If Dingler heads to Arizona then it’s highly unlikely Johnson goes, too, but it’s always tough to find catchers for the AFL. And like Dingler, Johnson could use some practice catching top arms.

Kody Clemens

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 80%

Kody Clemens seems to fit all the criteria of an AFL invitee. He missed time at the beginning of the season, and depending on your opinion, he’s either a legitimate part of the future who could use a bit more seasoning before being added to the 40-man roster, or he’s a fringe prospect looking to establish himself as a potential trade target for other clubs.

Nick Quintana

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 40%

It’s getting late early for Detroit’s 2nd rounder from 2019. Quintana battled nagging injuries for much of the 2021 season, but he’s never really performed in pro ball. He went to college at the University of Arizona, so perhaps the team thinks a return to the desert might kickstart his career.

Logan Shore

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 60%

As mentioned on page one, teams each need to send four pitchers to the AFL, and there’s always a premium on arms who can go multiple innings. Logan Shore turns 27 in late December and probably isn’t a part of the future for the Detroit Tigers, but he could theoretically be an emergency swingman, he didn’t work a full slate this season, and he’s been to the AFL before, back in 2017.

Garrett Hill

2021 Stats

Odds of going to the Arizona Fall League: 60%

Hill fits a lot of the same criteria Shore does, though he’s one year younger and hasn’t pitched much at the higher levels yet. But he had a strong season, can probably handle another 20-30 innings, and deserves a chance to prove himself against better competition.