Tigers Prospect Update: New ESPN rankings, Josue Briceño return, emerging pitcher

Rookie pitcher Jackson Jobe may have graduated from MLB's prospect ranks, but the Detroit Tigers still boast one of the most robust farm systems in baseball.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel recently adjusted his Future Value rankings designed to project prospects' performance in the Major Leagues, and he included three Tigers prospects in his top 50. Outfielder Max Clark, who replaced Jobe as the Tigers' No. 1 prospect, comes in at No. 8 in McDaniel's rankings, with infielder Kevin McGonigle at No. 11 and 2024 first-round pick Bryce Rainer at No. 22.

Both Clark and McGonigle check in on the 60 FV tier — the highest tier in the rankings — while Rainer checked in at the 55 FV tier. Expect upward movement from all three if they continue on their current trajectories.

Tigers Prospect Update: Josue Briceño returns, Dylan Smith emerges

Josue Briceño, the Tigers' No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was activated from the Injured List this week after being sidelined with a knee sprain. He didn't appear any worse for the wear, though, as he smacked a solo home run – his seventh homer of the season – in his first game back with High-A West Michigan.

In his first season at High-A, Briceño is batting .248/.349/.486 with 24 RBI in 28 games. Defensively, he has seen equal time at catcher and first base this season, with some DH appearances sprinkled in as well.

Elsewhere in the Tigers' farm system, right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday after pitching to a 1.71 ERA with 30 strikeouts to just seven walks through 21 innings for Double-A Erie. The former third-round pick also racked up three saves in three opportunities before earning his promotion.

Smith made his first appearance at the Triple-A level Wednesday against Indianapolis (Pittsburgh Pirates), where he struck out the side in a perfect seventh inning to help secure the 3-0 shutout victory for Toledo.

Smith is not among the Tigers' Top 50 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, due in large part to the numerous injuries that have slowed his development trajectory over the past two seasons. If he keeps striking out batters at this rate, though, the 24-year-old could be in Detroit sooner rather than later, especially with how important it is to maintain a fresh bullpen throughout the grind of a 162-game season.

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