Detroit Tigers: 3 prospects to be high on after the 2022 season

Detroit Tigers infield prospect Izaac Pacheco is going to hit.

It may seem like a menial phrase to suggest a player is going to be a hitter or hit. But, for Detroit Tigers infield prospect Izaac Pacheco, the statement reigns true. The former second-round pick out of Friendswood High School in Texas has excelled as he's gotten acclimated to the organization.

Pacheco was drafted as a prep shortstop with a projectable frame and body with tools to match. He's still just 19 years old, with room to keep firming up his build and developing some strength. Pacheco has a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame that's only going to improve.

The hit tools continue to develop and prove to be exciting moving forward. Pacheco swung it well for the Single-A affiliate in 2022. He earned a promotion to the High-A affiliate, but things did not go as well for him with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

In his time with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Pacheco managed 88 games played with 371 plate appearances. He slashed .267/.342/.415 with 21 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs to his credit. Pacheco also picked up 39 RBI for the Flying Tigers.

When he got promoted, Pacheco managed only 18 games played in a shorter stint. He accumulated 73 plate appearances, slashing .183/.274/.367 with only two doubles and three home runs for 13 RBI in total.

Take a look at the swings the Tigers showcase in the tweet above. After all, his time in West Michigan was not great, but the power continues to shine through. He's quick to the ball with explosive rotation on the swing.

The hips clear as he rotates, and he's got the strength to produce loud contact. He's got the ability to impact the baseball and show off pull-side juice. There's much to like about Pacheco moving forward, including his athleticism.

Pacheco is an example of a projectable body prep player with the tools that project to match. Granted, he's still got a long way to go, but there's more than enough reason to remain high on the left-handed bat.

On top of the tools in the batters' box, Pacheco carries the athleticism and upside with the frame into the field. He's spent time on the left side of the field for the Tigers. He was a prep shortstop. I've said that he has a corner infield projection if he continues to add to the frame and put on some weight via muscle.

Tigers fans should be looking forward to the progression path Izaac Pacheco could take moving forward.