Detroit Tigers: 2 prospects that need a promotion and 1 that needs a demotion

The Detroit Tigers are due for some movement in their farm system

It admittedly hasn’t been as fun to follow the Detroit Tigers’ farm system this year as it was in 2021. Their top two prospects from last season—Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson—were both slated to make the big league roster in 2022, although Greene obviously got hurt. However, there are still some interesting names to watch.

It is once again a very pitcher-heavy farm system, with half of MLB Pipeline’s top 30 prospects for the Detroit Tigers being pitchers. There are a few hitters worth paying attention to, but none of them (except maybe one) are eye-popping. Most of the intriguing Tigers’ hitting prospects are quite young as well, so they are still a few years away.

There hasn’t been nearly as much movement in the Tigers’ farm system this season compared to last season. Starting pitchers Wilmer Flores and Garrett Hill were both promoted to Double-A and Triple-A respectively a couple weeks ago, but that’s really been it. But there are definitely some players who are worthy of being moved, whether it’s up or down.

Here are two players worthy of a promotion and one that needs a quick detour.

RHP Reese Olson, Double-A to Triple A

Acquired in the Daniel Norris trade last July, Olson has been a really nice find. He currently has a 3.20 ERA with 66 strikeouts in just 45 innings of work in Double-A Erie. His FIP is 2.16, which suggests he’s pitching better that he actually is. Considering the Tigers got this kid for pretty much nothing, Al Avila may have gotten this one right.

Here’s what MLB Pipeline has to say about Olson:

“While Olson doesn’t profile as a power pitcher, his fastball can get to the mid-90s and a tick above when he wants, an improvement from the start of his pro career. His next step is to sustain velocity improvement without sacrificing command. Though his curveball was a preferred secondary pitch earlier in his career, he found success with a slider and a changeup last season, and is trying to sharpen the slider to play off the curve. Though Olson has a compact delivery, he can also struggle to get back in form when he falls out. He had eight outings with seven or more strikeouts, but he also had six outings with four-plus walks. Only once did he reach both in the same outing.”

Olson was drafted in the 13th round of the 2018 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Considering the pitching factory that organization has become in recent years, it makes sense they would think they could afford to move on from a guy like him.

As Pipeline mentions, walks have been an issue for Olson in the past, but he’s only walking two batters per nine so far this year. Combine that with a 13.2 K/9 and you’ve got the makings of a pretty darn good pitcher on your hands.

Olson is overdue for a promotion at this point. It’s time to see what he can do against Triple-A hitters.

3B Colt Keith, High-A to Double-A

Keith was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The Detroit Tigers gave him a large signing bonus to keep him away from his commitment to Arizona State. So far, it’s safe to say both parties are happy in this situation.

Keith was a two-way player in high school, and was actually getting some buzz from teams looking to draft him as a pitcher. The whole hitting thing has worked out for him so far, as he is by far the best hitting prospect the Detroit Tigers have at the moment.

Here’s MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on Keith:

“Keith is athletic for his big frame…His size hasn’t yet translated into power, but he has a nice line-drive approach and advanced plate discipline for his age thanks in part to a quick, efficient left-handed swing that enables him to wait to commit. His .320 average at Lakeland included a .437 on-base percentage; followed by eight walks in 18 games at West Michigan. He doesn’t chase breaking balls out of the zone often, though he can be challenged by high velocity in the strike zone. He has quick reactions and a strong arm, but will need to continue working to stick at third.”

Keith’s advanced plate discipline has served him well. The Tigers have been awfully aggressive with him so far and that has also panned out. He’s played all of 2022 at High-A West Michigan, slashing .299/.372/.533 with a .905 OPS and eight home runs. At just 20 years old, he’s raked at every level of the minors so far. According to Fangraphs, Keith ranks seventh among High-A players 21 or younger in wRC+ at 152, and 10th in ISO at .234.

The Tigers have been aggressive with Keith in the past, and they should continue that aggression. Some thought he was getting promoted a couple weeks ago when Flores and Hill got the bump. He would be one of the youngest players at Double-A, but Keith has done nothing to show that he couldn’t handle that challenge.