Can Detroit Tigers prospect Wilmer Flores make the Opening Day roster?

Detroit Tigers' Flores has all of the tools to be a starter

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Wilmer Flores has succeeded at every level of his young career, dominating the minor league scene so far. He could be on a fast track to the Tigers rotation, maybe in time for the opening day of 2023.

Flores,a 6-foot-4- and 225-pound flamethrower, has found success in his short minor league career. He has major league quality stuff, highlighted by his fastball and curve ball, and uses those pitches frequently to dominate the opposition.

Flores is one of the top pitching prospects in the Detroit Tigers system and is looking to make his major league baseball sooner than later. As the Tigers' 2022 minor league pitcher of the year, he certainly has management's attention and that, along with his pitches, may be enough to get to the majors.

Flores, whose brother has the exact same name and is with the San Franciso Giants, has a chance to be in the starting rotation this season. With the Tigers' rotation possibly having a spot open with a trade of a starter potentially in the works, Flores could have a shot. Flores will be one of the prospects competing for one of those jobs, and, if things go well, could be a fourth or fifth starter come opening day.

Flores to the Detroit Tigers organization as an undrafted free agent, signing with Detroit on July 8, 2020. Since then, he has blown away the opposition and solidified himself as a legit pitching prospect and one the Tigers brass should pay attention to. In his short minor league career, Flores has a record of 13-8 with 47 walks, 220 strikeouts, 2.50 walks per nine, 11.69 strikeouts per nine, and a 1.12 WHIP in 169 innings.

Whether he makes the starting rotation, or a bullpen spot, before opening day or not he has put himself on the radar of pitchers to keep an eye on. Flores is shaping up to be a can't miss prospect with the hopes of dominating the majors like he has the minor leagues. Flores should be in the Detroit Tigers rotation sooner than later and that could be this season. He looks confident and ready to take shape of his MLB career, regardless of when he makes it to the big club.