The 2024 Detroit Tigers system is starting to take on an identity under second year President Scott Harris. Harris, along with newly hired General Manager Jeff Greenberg, value young talent differently than the previous management. It’s hard to imagine the current regime selecting Beau Burrows, Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, or even Casey Mize. In fact, the lack of development in the players of the 2015-2018 classes is a significant reason for the current state of the MLB club and it’s farm system.
There are some extremely bright spots in the organization from pre-Harris years. Colt Keith, Jackson Jobe, and Jace Jung continue to develop and lead the top levels of the system. Both Keith and Jung have betting chances of cracking the 40-man in 2024, with Jobe quickly following in 2025. The newest weapon in the Tigers arsenal, Max Clark, tops the farm system rankings. The 19-year-old has all the tools to be a mainstay in the Comerica outfield alongside Riley Greene.
While it might take another year’s trade deadline and MLB Draft for the Detroit Tigers to truly reload across their minor league system, there are a couple standouts at each level that look to develop and progress quickly. Organization depth is the largest hole in the system, but Harris reminds fans and players to “trust the process”. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)
Eight Prospects1500 writers contributed to this column and rankings including Kurt Moody (@DET_Guru_Kurt), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Clint Fasse (@ProspectLarceny), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
J15 international signee Nestor Miranda, 3B, would likely slot somewhere in the 35-40 range, in Tier 5. Look for him to potentially be ranked in our midseason update.
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2023
Tier 1
1. Colt Keith, 3B/2B, 22, Triple-A
In 2023, Keith proved his bat can be something special. Across AA and AAA, he logged 126 games; more than 2021 and 2022 combined, and slashed .306/.380/.552 while hitting 27 homers and driving in 101 runs. Colt is no longer the unranked, unknown 5th round infieder/pitcher the Tigers selected in 2020. Instead, both the Tigers organization and their fanbase expect to see Keith in Comerica Park on Opening Day. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)
2. Max Clark, OF, 19, Single-A
Clark was a genuine option to go 1-1 and deserving of being just that, but instead he “slipped” to three overall. At first glance watching his game you may be underwhelmed, but that is because he does everything so effortlessly. Smooth and quiet swing but makes loud contact and will fight off the pitcher’s best pitches to try and extend an AB to get his pitch. Once the ball is in play, he can absolutely fly, which also translates to the field where he could be a plus center fielder and an arm that would be plus even in right field. Clark is a true five-tool prospect and has a shot to be a superstar. (@ShaunKernahan)
Tier 2
3. Jackson Jobe, RHP, 21, Double-A
The right-hander progressed in nearly every possible way in his second year as a pro. Jobe increased his fastball’s velocity, made his arm slot consistent across his four pitches, commanded the zone better, and trusted his off-speed pitches more. There is still a question about a full AA season’s impact to his back, but the Tigers will not rush him. When Jobe is healthy, he is one of the best RHP prospects in all of baseball. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)
4. Jace Jung, 2B, 23, Double-A
2023 was not the season that both Jung himself or the organization expected when they made the Texas Tech All-American the 12th overall pick in 2022. Yes, Jung hit 27 doubles, 28 homers, and drove in 82 runs. Yes, his last three months were exponentially better than his first three. But Jace has to limit the strikeouts and learn to identify chase pitches better at the next level. 139 Ks in 128 games is too many. Expect Jung to be a mid-season or injury call up to Detroit in 2024. (@DET_Guru_Kurt)
5. Justyn-Henry Malloy, 3B/OF, 23, Triple-A
The Tigers acquired Malloy in a trade with the Braves at the end of 2022, and just as he did that year, he had a very productive 2023 season with his new squad. His bat will provide a solid amount of hits and home runs, but he’s a very unaggressive hitter and even led all minor leagues in walks with 110. Defensively, Malloy split his time between the corner outfield positions and third base; he’s better in the outfield so the Tigers may move him there full time once he makes the majors. His quality of contact leaves a little to be desired for someone of his size and strength, but he’s too disciplined at the plate to not make good contact when he’s swinging. He’ll almost definitely be up in 2024, and will have a chance to win one of the Tigers’ outfield spots. (@aj_greene1015)
Tier 3
6. Kevin McGonigle, SS, 19, Single-A
A left-handed-hitting middle infield prospect, McGonigle was selected 37th overall in the 2023 draft. The bat control really stands out as he is able to come away with base hits on pitches most would swing and miss on. The hit tool is a true plus tool, while the power lags behind it although there is weight shift in the swing that should generate more pop as he fills out in time. There is some questions as to whether or not he will be able to stick at short as the arm and range are just average, but there should be more than enough value in the bat even if he eventually moves to second. (@ShaunKernahan)
7. Ty Madden, RHP, 23, Double-A
Madden pitched a full season at the Double-A level last year and put-up good numbers. In 118 innings, he had a 3.43 ERA/1.28 WHIP with almost a 30% strikeout rate. His command lacked at times leading to 3.81 BB/9, however a deeper look into his season showed a more dominant pitcher from July on. In his last 11 starts he struck out 79 in 61.2 innings with a 2.63 ERA/1.12 WHIP. If he commands his arsenal like he did in the second half, there might be a solid number three pitcher here. (@JMahyfam)
8. Wilmer Flores, RHP, 22, Double-A
This Flores, not that Wilmer Flores, is a 22-year-old right hander, signed as a 19-year-old back in 2020 from Venezuela. Following an appearance in the 2022 Futures Game, Flores spent 2023 across High-A/Double-A. It’s likely the 6’4″ 225 lb. starter will battle it out in Triple-A with the likes of Casey Mize and Sawyer Gipson-Long (see #10) in hopes of getting the call to Detroit. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
9. Hao-Yu Lee, 2B, 20, High-A
Lee came over the Detroit on August 1st in a trade for Michael Lorenzen. At the time he had been playing for High-A Jersey Shore (Philadelphia) and was assigned to West Michigan, then received more playing time in the Arizona Fall League. His season numbers (.273/.362/.399) were very similar to his AFL output (.265/.373/.367). The second baseman might not be at the top of the position’s depth chart in the organization, but a nice 2024 in High-A, and hopefully Double-A, will boost his future MLB stock. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
10. Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP, 26, MLB
Gipson-Long was touted as a command specialist when he came over to Detroit. That held true last season as he walked only 29 in 22 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, and that was good enough for a September call-up to MLB. He posted a 4.34 K/BB, right around his mark from previous years, His fastball, slider, and changeup are average to good offering, and the Tigers worked with him to add a cutter to his arsenal which could help him keep his role as a starter. It will be challenging facing higher level competition with his stuff, but there’s a path to him pitching the majority of his innings in Detroit this season. (@aj_greene1015)
11. Parker Meadows, OF, 24, MLB
After a great start in Triple-A, Meadows made his MLB debut for the Tigers last season. In those 125 ABs he performed well and might have gone a bit under the radar. He hit 3 home runs, stole 8 bases, drove in 13, and scored 19 runs. He posted league average exit velocities and whiff rates leading some to believe that a breakout season might be in store in 2024. There is a decent chance that he slots into the leadoff spot for the Tigers and could provide some sneaky value for dynasty owners in the runs scored and stolen bases categories while chipping in 10-12 HR. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 4
12. Wenceel Pérez, 2B/OF, 24, Triple-A
13. Roberto Campos, OF, 20, High-A
14. Dillon Dingler, C, 25, Triple-A
15. Cristian Santana, 3B/SS/2B, 20, Single-A
16. Brant Hurter, LHP, 25, Double-A
17. Max Anderson, 2B, 21, Single-A
18. Troy Melton, RHP, 23, High-A
19. Justice Bigbie, OF, 24, Triple-A
20. Peyton Graham, SS, 22, Single-A
21. Paul Wilson, LHP, 19, High School
22. Dylan Smith, RHP, 23, Double-A
23. Izaac Pacheco, 3B, 21, High-A
24. Tyler Mattison, RHP, 24, Double-A
25. Ryan Kreidler, SS, 26, MLB
Perez has been around since 2017 and is what he is – a solid hitting/average speed middle infielder. Campos looks like a backup outfield type with no stand-out tool as of now. Dingler hasn’t hit much in his time with the organization but has some pop. Santana is young and raw but has some good all-around tools to his game. Melton has the makings of a future mid-rotation starter. Bigbie makes contact with the ball and has blossoming power and could be part of Detroit’s outfield mix sometime this season. Graham is a solid hitter with some sneaky power and good speed. Pacheco has some pop but needs to work on his overall hitting to make an impact. Kreidler struggled in the majors over parts of two years and will probably be overtaken by some of the other young infielders in the organization.
Tier 5
26. Eddys Leonard, SS, 23, Triple-A
27. Keider Montero, RHP, 23, Triple-A
28. Enrique Jimenez, C/1B, 18, Rookie (DSL)
29. Carson Rucker, SS, 19, Rookie (FCL)
30. Danny Serretti, SS/3B, 23, Double-A
31. Manuel Sequera, SS/2B/OF, 21, Single-A
32. Luke Gold, 2B/3B, 23, High-A
33. Gage Workman, SS, 24, Double-A
34. Andre Lipcius, 3B, 25, MLB
35. Freddy Pacheco, RHP, 25, Triple-A
36. Abel Bastidas, SS/2B, 20, High-A
37. Trei Cruz, OF/SS, 25, Double-A
38. Tanner Kohlhepp, RHP, 24, Single-A
39. Reylin Perez, SS/2B, 19, Rookie (FCL)
40. Josue Briceno, C/1B, 19, Single-A
41. Austin Bergner, RHP, 26, Triple-A
42. Jose De La Cruz, OF, 22, Single-A
43. Jaden Hamm, RHP, 21, Single-A
44. Brendan White, RHP, 25, MLB
45. Chris Meyers, 1B/OF, 24, Double-A
46. Josh Crouch, C, 25, Double-A
47. Daniel Cabrera, OF, 25, Double-A
48. Brady Allen, OF, 24, Double-A
49. Javier Osorio, SS, 18, Rookie (DSL)
50. Eliezer Alfonzo, C, 24, Double-A
Leonard came over from the Dodgers in a late-summer trade. He has good power and could see time in the majors this summer. Jimenez is a young catcher who looked good in his fist season of Rookie ball. Rucker has average all-around tools which could play as a backup CI type. Seretti is a utility type of infielder if he makes the majors. Sequera is a young low-average/good-power shortstop. Gold is a CI without much power. Workman has shown occasional flashes of power but not much else during his 4 years with the organization. Lipcius didn’t look too bad in his short time in the majors last season and could be a backup infielder in 2024. Bastidas hasn’t shown much hitting ability in his three years with the team. Briceno has solid power and a good eye at the plate. De La Cruz hasn’t shown much since tearing it up Rookie ball back in 2019. Crouch (coincidentally, a catcher) struggles getting the bat on the ball but has some power and could be a backup in the majors. Cabrera has struggled for Detroit since being selected in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. Osorio is a young middle infielder who improved in his 2nd year in Rookie ball.
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Adam Greene is a Sport Management and Marketing double major at UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. His main focus is sport marketing, where he's already had internships with the local Westfield Starfires and Springfield Thunderbirds. He now writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life. When Covid hit, he started paying a lot more attention to the Red Sox minor league teams, and now, follows them almost as much as the big league squad. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing in real life. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
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Shaun Kernahanhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/skernahan1500/
