Detroit Tigers Prospects: Arizona Fall League Weekly Roundup (10/10-10/15)

A couple of quick notes from the AFL 2022 season

The Detroit Tigers have their group of prospects there with the Rafters. With the focus being on the players, things have not been smooth sailing for them whatsoever. The team is currently 3-9 through the season’s first two weeks.

The Rafters have scored just 64 runs, giving up 107 to the opposition. This 43-run differential is the worst in the league. The next worst is a two-way tie at the top of the league, with Peoria and Surprise both being +1 on their run differential.

The Rafters are the only team with a negative run differential by an absolute landslide. Not the best start for them. There have been a few standouts that might be noteworthy for fans besides the Tigers’ prospects.

Zac Veen and Jordan Lawlar have swung it well. Veen, a Colorado Rockies outfield prospect, continues to find barrels and get the job done. Plenty to be excited about for the Rockies fans. Lawlar was a prep shortstop the Tigers passed on when they took Jackson Jobe, who was selected sixth by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He continues to hit well this fall and do an excellent job with the Rafters, being a source of offense. There are tools to like that he’s clearly been developing during his time with the Diamondbacks organization. Grant Lavigne, a Rockies competitive balance pick from the 2018 MLB Draft, has picked up ten hits, with five of them being doubles.

When it comes to the arms, Wentz has been the best arm, but among qualified pitchers, Connor Thomas, a left-handed pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals system, has been decent. But there’s plenty to be desired from the team’s pitching staff.

The Rafters will head into week three of the 2022 AFL season looking to improve that horrific run differential and keep adding to the win column.