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The next great Tigers top prospect is absolutely tearing it up at Single-A

ByEmma Lingan|
Detroit Tigers team owner Chris Ilitch, left, talks to president of baseball operation Scott Harris as they watch batting practice during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.
Detroit Tigers team owner Chris Ilitch, left, talks to president of baseball operation Scott Harris as they watch batting practice during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2025 season didn't get off to the smoothest of starts for Detroit Tigers first-rounder Bryce Rainer.

The shortstop, selected by Detroit at No. 11 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, began his professional career by slashing .143/.269/.143 over the first seven games of the season for Single-A Lakeland. However, his performance in Thursday's game showed signs that a breakout could be just around the corner.

Rainer cranked an opposite field shot for his first professional home run in the bottom of the first inning of Lakeland's 8-6 win over Bradenton on Thursday. As if that wasn't enough, Rainer went oppo again for a ground rule double in the bottom of the seventh. He also recorded a walk and capped off his big day with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Every ball that Rainer puts in play seems to be absolutely smoked off the bat. It's still early, but he is demonstrating the type of power that could end up making him an absolute steal for the Tigers at No. 11 overall.

Bryce Rainer, Tigers’ top draft pick in 2024, is tearing it up at Single-A

Then came Friday night when he went 1-for-2 with an RBI double, three walks an a stolen base in another victory.

As a general rule, it's not advisable to get overly excited about a 19-year-old who has taken just 37 trips to the plate in his professional career. But Rainer has given Tigers fans plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about his future.

Rainer made his professional debut in the Tigers' 2025 Spring Breakout game last month and went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI against the top prospects in the Atlanta Braves' system. He's slashing a pedestrian .200/.313/.360 for Lakeland, but his bat has been heating up in a big way over his last two games. In his last nine at-bats, Rainer has four hits, four walks and four RBI. In 32 at-bats this season, he has struck out just four times.

The Tigers' No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Rainer possesses a rare blend of speed and power that could easily make him Detroit's shortstop of the future. He's still a few years away from the big leagues, but his progression through the Tigers' farm system will certainly bear watching.

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