Detroit Tigers minor-league tools series: Best Hitter

Detroit Tigers Best Hit Tools: Honorable Mention

Andre Lipcius – IF

Lipcius hit just .238/.312/.378 over 94 games at Double-A Erie last year, so those who scout the stat line might wonder why he’s on the list. He may ultimately lack the bat speed to catch up to premium velocity and be anything more than a fringe-average hitter, but everything else about his process at the plate is sound. He consistently puts together quality plate appearances, makes two-strike adjustments, sprays the ball from gap to gap, and has enough power to punish mistakes.

Austin Murr – 1B/OF

Austin Murr was Detroit’s 6th-round pick in the 2021 draft, and though he was considered something of a value senior sign, it didn’t take long for him to put some impressive offensive skills on display. Murr finished the season with a .319/.440/.393 line over 39 games, and he was an absolute pest in the batter’s box, putting together marathon at-bats, refusing to expand the zone, and hitting the ball from line to line — at one point in West Michigan he had a 16-game hitting streak. Murr didn’t hit the ball particularly hard, though, and he’ll need to get his legs more involved in his swing to produce the kind of power necessary to succeed at higher levels.