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Detroit Tigers minor-league tools series: Best Fastball

By Roger Castillo

Sep 19, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Jason Foley (68) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Jason Foley (68) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers
Wisconsin pitcher Reese Olson (16) delivers a pitch during the MiLB game between the Clinton LumberKings and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on July 30, 2019 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. Wisconsin lost 8-3.Apc Timberrattlers 0730 1 /

Detroit Tigers Top 3 Fastballs in the system

  • Wilmer Flores
  • Reese Olson
  • Jason Foley

We will start with RHP Wilmer Flores, who made such an impression on the Tigers brass down in Lakeland that he pitched in the Arizona Fall League. They signed him in 2020 out of Arizona Western and came over from FCL Tigers West in the beginning of July after striking out 18 in 13 innings pitch.

Combined that with his Lakeland numbers overall and you are looking at an impressive 90 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched. His ERA was 4.25, but his FIP was 2.61. He was hitting 95-97 and showed an impressive spin rate at 2,622, with K per 9 of 12.2.

After a rough July in three starts, his August numbers over five starts showed an improvement of his command as he walked 9 over 26 innings of work compared to 7 walks in 10 innings when he first got the call up. He finished September strong, with an ERA of 0.54, allowing just one run over 16.2 innings of work and struck out 22.

He also posses a plus curve but that’s another story for another day.

RHP Reese Olsen

Came over in mid-season from the Brewers and after two starts at West Michigan, he went to Erie for the rest of the season and what we saw in a small sample size with the Whitecaps, his fastball has good arm side run, a slight increase in velocity from last season and good command. His K rate between both of his High-A stops was impressive. He has a good four pitch mix and I am interested how he will do under a full season at Erie.

Either way, the trade came at the right time. With type of movement on his pitch mix to compliment the fastball, Olsen should continue to move up.

RHP Jason Foley 

Foley out of the gate in spring training was averaging around 99, but the knock on the pitch was it lacked movement. Still, he is one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the system, throwing heat consistently in his appearances. If he can continue to work on his command and the development of his slider, Foley has closer material.

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