Detroit Tigers Top 30 Prospects for 2023: 30-26

30. Chance Kirby

Kirby is a 27-year-old and former 25th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas San Antonio. The right-hander has amassed a career 3.77 ERA in his minor league career; spanning 60 starts and over 350 innings. In 2022, Kirby supplied a 2.62 ERA for Double-A Erie.

He is more of a finesse pitcher that may scrape the big leagues thanks to his strike throwing ability. As former site expert, Chris Brown so eloquently explained: organizations will show you how they feel about you. The Tigers had they thought Kirby had a legitimate and quick chance at helping them, would have quickly promoted the 26-year-old Kirby after his fast and steady start in Double-A. Instead, they left him there the entire year to perform.

Kirby ultimately has a role 30 ceiling as an emergency starter at the highest levels, which leaves him at our 30th spot on the list.

29. Brendan White

White was a moderate surprise as a 40-man roster add following the 2022 season, which protected him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft this year. After some back-and-forth in 2021, White made the transition to full-time reliever and was rewarded: a 2.67 ERA in 48 games; 67 innings, just 44 hits, and 73 strikeouts.

It's a quick and deceptive motion and has gone primarily fastball/slider since the transition. The fastball is consistently mid-90's with ride and catching prospect Dillon Dingler believes White's slider is one of the best in the system. It's a relief profile all the way now as the transition back to being a starter is historically rare, but White has the potential to be an excellent mid-relief option as early as 2023.