2018 Detroit News top Tigers prospects
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Click through the gallery for a breakdown of the Detroit Tigers' top 10 prospects, compiled by Lynn Henning, including right-hander Alex Faedo (pictured).
Click through the gallery for a breakdown of the Detroit Tigers' top 10 prospects, compiled by Lynn Henning, including right-hander Alex Faedo (pictured). Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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1. Franklin Perez, 20, RH starter, 6-3, 197: In a native Venezuelan's right arm is the primary payoff for the Tigers bestowing Justin Verlander — and by extension, last year’s World Series party — on the Astros. He was the Tigers' top prize in August's midnight-oil transaction that also brought to Detroit a potentially solid center fielder in Daz Cameron, as well as a defensively gifted catcher in Jake Rogers. But it was Perez's combination of youth (he turned 20 in December) and achievement, which last year saw him reach Double A, that pushed the Tigers to hold out for Perez. He has a fastball he can throw to appropriate spots that runs 93 and up, as well as a fine curve and change-up, and a slider that could help push him to Detroit by 2019. The slider will be his primary project as he polishes his repertoire this year at Double A Erie, and perhaps soon, at Triple A Toledo. Perez signed as a 16-year-old for $1 million. Teenagers get that kind of money only rarely — when their talents are likewise viewed as rare. Perez's stock has only risen since.
1. Franklin Perez, 20, RH starter, 6-3, 197: In a native Venezuelan's right arm is the primary payoff for the Tigers bestowing Justin Verlander — and by extension, last year’s World Series party — on the Astros. He was the Tigers' top prize in August's midnight-oil transaction that also brought to Detroit a potentially solid center fielder in Daz Cameron, as well as a defensively gifted catcher in Jake Rogers. But it was Perez's combination of youth (he turned 20 in December) and achievement, which last year saw him reach Double A, that pushed the Tigers to hold out for Perez. He has a fastball he can throw to appropriate spots that runs 93 and up, as well as a fine curve and change-up, and a slider that could help push him to Detroit by 2019. The slider will be his primary project as he polishes his repertoire this year at Double A Erie, and perhaps soon, at Triple A Toledo. Perez signed as a 16-year-old for $1 million. Teenagers get that kind of money only rarely — when their talents are likewise viewed as rare. Perez's stock has only risen since. Robert Gurganus, Associated Press
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2. Beau Burrows, 21, RH starter, 6-2, 200: Going to be a rather eventful season for Burrows, it would seem. He has a chance to pitch his way to Toledo and maybe to Detroit for a September cameo. Either way, Comerica Park is drawing closer. He is a legitimate high-end rotation bulldog, with a big-league fastball that can cruise in the mid-90s, a curveball that bites, a slider that needs more seasoning, and a change-up. He was a first-round pick three years ago and has done nothing but shine at two low-Single A stops ahead of last year’s move to Double A, where he'll begin his 2018 trek. Burrows must sharpen his slider. He must command four pitches. But the arc has been smooth at every level. He'll add some necessary polish in 2018.
2. Beau Burrows, 21, RH starter, 6-2, 200: Going to be a rather eventful season for Burrows, it would seem. He has a chance to pitch his way to Toledo and maybe to Detroit for a September cameo. Either way, Comerica Park is drawing closer. He is a legitimate high-end rotation bulldog, with a big-league fastball that can cruise in the mid-90s, a curveball that bites, a slider that needs more seasoning, and a change-up. He was a first-round pick three years ago and has done nothing but shine at two low-Single A stops ahead of last year’s move to Double A, where he'll begin his 2018 trek. Burrows must sharpen his slider. He must command four pitches. But the arc has been smooth at every level. He'll add some necessary polish in 2018. Mike Janes, Associated Press
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3. Isaac Paredes, 18, SS, 5-11, 175: The Tigers might have gotten one of their more blessed trade-delivered prospects in years when they pulled Paredes from the Cubs in July's deal for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. It isn't certain he’ll remain at shortstop; he's bigger and thicker than is typically the case for shortstops who must show reasonable defensive range. But he should be an excellent big-league second baseman, or third baseman, when his defense already is strong and his bat is potentially stronger. It's customary for teenage minor-leaguers to be shy on power. Their bodies haven't yet developed sufficiently to make home runs part of their hitting profile. Paredes, though, balances power and line drives with nice plate discipline (.341 on-base percentage in 174 minor-league games). The Tigers have been crying for an infielder who has potential all-around All-Star-grade skills. They likely got him in Paredes.
3. Isaac Paredes, 18, SS, 5-11, 175: The Tigers might have gotten one of their more blessed trade-delivered prospects in years when they pulled Paredes from the Cubs in July's deal for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. It isn't certain he’ll remain at shortstop; he's bigger and thicker than is typically the case for shortstops who must show reasonable defensive range. But he should be an excellent big-league second baseman, or third baseman, when his defense already is strong and his bat is potentially stronger. It's customary for teenage minor-leaguers to be shy on power. Their bodies haven't yet developed sufficiently to make home runs part of their hitting profile. Paredes, though, balances power and line drives with nice plate discipline (.341 on-base percentage in 174 minor-league games). The Tigers have been crying for an infielder who has potential all-around All-Star-grade skills. They likely got him in Paredes. Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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4. Alex Faedo, 22, RH starter, 6-5, 225: This is an interesting guy to anoint as a team's fourth-best minor-league prospect. He has yet to pitch in a professional game. Which tells you how talented is Faedo, who was the Tigers’ first-round pick in June. Faedo showed enough during his college days at the University of Florida, and through the Gators’ 2017 College World Series victory party, to make projections easier than would typically be the case. He is a powerful and poised artisan, with a slider that can make hitters consider a different career. His fastball is of the 92-93-mph variety. He has a change-up that will get sharper in 2018 as he finally pitches professionally, which figures to be at Single A Lakeland. But it's the slider that’s his trademark, and it’s the slider most of Faedo's new followers in Detroit will be most watching during spring camp and beyond.
4. Alex Faedo, 22, RH starter, 6-5, 225: This is an interesting guy to anoint as a team's fourth-best minor-league prospect. He has yet to pitch in a professional game. Which tells you how talented is Faedo, who was the Tigers’ first-round pick in June. Faedo showed enough during his college days at the University of Florida, and through the Gators’ 2017 College World Series victory party, to make projections easier than would typically be the case. He is a powerful and poised artisan, with a slider that can make hitters consider a different career. His fastball is of the 92-93-mph variety. He has a change-up that will get sharper in 2018 as he finally pitches professionally, which figures to be at Single A Lakeland. But it's the slider that’s his trademark, and it’s the slider most of Faedo's new followers in Detroit will be most watching during spring camp and beyond. Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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5. Daz Cameron, 21, OF, 6-2, 185: He, too, was one of the prizes the Tigers insisted upon when Verlander was forwarded to Houston last August. The Tigers had liked what they saw during a June-July-August spree when Cameron, then playing Single A ball for the Astros, had these OPS numbers in successive months: .849, .906, and 1.026, including a .460 on-base percentage and .566 slugging that forged his August OPS (.377 batting average). Cameron, of course, is the son of ex-big-leaguer Mike Cameron and was a first-round pick in 2015 (37th overall) as he departed Eagle's Landing Christian High in McDonough, Ga. The Tigers liked him a lot during last October's instructional camp — his approach, his power, which seems to be gaining as he adds years and muscle — and will give him a shot at Double A Erie once Florida camp adjourns. A serious kid who works hard. Not much to not like about Cameron.
5. Daz Cameron, 21, OF, 6-2, 185: He, too, was one of the prizes the Tigers insisted upon when Verlander was forwarded to Houston last August. The Tigers had liked what they saw during a June-July-August spree when Cameron, then playing Single A ball for the Astros, had these OPS numbers in successive months: .849, .906, and 1.026, including a .460 on-base percentage and .566 slugging that forged his August OPS (.377 batting average). Cameron, of course, is the son of ex-big-leaguer Mike Cameron and was a first-round pick in 2015 (37th overall) as he departed Eagle's Landing Christian High in McDonough, Ga. The Tigers liked him a lot during last October's instructional camp — his approach, his power, which seems to be gaining as he adds years and muscle — and will give him a shot at Double A Erie once Florida camp adjourns. A serious kid who works hard. Not much to not like about Cameron. Mike Janes, Associated Press
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6. Gregory Soto, 23, LH starter, 6-1, 180: Here is another of the power-armed gents who could, and probably should, be bidding for Comerica Park rotation shifts as early as 2019. Soto's fastball can run in the higher 90s, with a slider (more of a “slurve”) that makes him particularly unpopular with hitters. Numbers in two categories explain his ruggedness: He has struck out 144 batters last season in 124 innings. He has allowed 97 hits. A pitcher who strikes out more than a single batter per inning while allowing markedly fewer than nine hits per nine innings is a nasty hurler. Ah, but there is one issue: control, which will need to be improved upon in 2018. He's developing. He is not a fast-lane arrival. But he could be worth the wait.
6. Gregory Soto, 23, LH starter, 6-1, 180: Here is another of the power-armed gents who could, and probably should, be bidding for Comerica Park rotation shifts as early as 2019. Soto's fastball can run in the higher 90s, with a slider (more of a “slurve”) that makes him particularly unpopular with hitters. Numbers in two categories explain his ruggedness: He has struck out 144 batters last season in 124 innings. He has allowed 97 hits. A pitcher who strikes out more than a single batter per inning while allowing markedly fewer than nine hits per nine innings is a nasty hurler. Ah, but there is one issue: control, which will need to be improved upon in 2018. He's developing. He is not a fast-lane arrival. But he could be worth the wait. Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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7. Matt Manning, 20, RH starter, 6-6, 190: It’s necessary to remember this, until a couple of weeks ago, was a teenage pitcher. Percentages have never been terribly high when it comes to projecting big-league starters long before pitchers are old enough to drink. That's the hang-up with Manning. When they made him their top pick in 2016, the Tigers liked him, in great part because of his overall athleticism and the sport in which he then specialized. He was a basketball player whose arm had a minimum of mileage. The rawness was on display during Manning's first season and-a-half as a professional. He has much development ahead. He also has a terrific arsenal with which the farm coaches can work. Best advice in tracking Manning: Be patient. He’ll likely be at high Single A to begin the year. The Tigers, who were careful with him last season, will be content with a slow-growth process when it offers so much dividend down the road.
7. Matt Manning, 20, RH starter, 6-6, 190: It’s necessary to remember this, until a couple of weeks ago, was a teenage pitcher. Percentages have never been terribly high when it comes to projecting big-league starters long before pitchers are old enough to drink. That's the hang-up with Manning. When they made him their top pick in 2016, the Tigers liked him, in great part because of his overall athleticism and the sport in which he then specialized. He was a basketball player whose arm had a minimum of mileage. The rawness was on display during Manning's first season and-a-half as a professional. He has much development ahead. He also has a terrific arsenal with which the farm coaches can work. Best advice in tracking Manning: Be patient. He’ll likely be at high Single A to begin the year. The Tigers, who were careful with him last season, will be content with a slow-growth process when it offers so much dividend down the road. Four Seam Images, Associated Press
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8. Jake Rogers, 22, C, 6-1, 190: Part of the trifecta that came Detroit's way thanks to the Astros-Verlander swap, Rogers will be a plus defender in the big leagues, with, per usual, his bat determining if he starts or works more often as a backup. But go ahead and bet Rogers will bat with enough crunch to make him an everyday catcher. That's what the Tigers were forecasting when last August's midnight deal was being sealed. Rogers' defense is indeed superb. And he has a furious arm. A third-round pick out of Tulane in 2016, Rogers, who turns 23 in April, could be moving to Detroit as early as sometime next season. Depends much on how that bat develops in 2018. But that .817 OPS at three Single A stops in 2017 hinted at a reasonable hitter's profile.
8. Jake Rogers, 22, C, 6-1, 190: Part of the trifecta that came Detroit's way thanks to the Astros-Verlander swap, Rogers will be a plus defender in the big leagues, with, per usual, his bat determining if he starts or works more often as a backup. But go ahead and bet Rogers will bat with enough crunch to make him an everyday catcher. That's what the Tigers were forecasting when last August's midnight deal was being sealed. Rogers' defense is indeed superb. And he has a furious arm. A third-round pick out of Tulane in 2016, Rogers, who turns 23 in April, could be moving to Detroit as early as sometime next season. Depends much on how that bat develops in 2018. But that .817 OPS at three Single A stops in 2017 hinted at a reasonable hitter's profile. Robin Buckson, Detroit News
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9. Kyle Funkhouser, 23, RH starter, 6-2, 220: Credit the Tigers' scouts on this call. No one says he's a sure thing. He needs to show he can pitch 150 sturdy innings. But the big-picture view of Funkhouser is that the Tigers probably stole a first-round arm with a fourth-round draft pick in 2016. He has missed most of last season’s second half because of an elbow strain. But there wasn’t any ligament damage and most of Funkhouser's issues can be traced to nearly a year on the sidelines after he was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2015 and decided against signing. He instead opted for a reunion with the University of Louisville, where he got his degree, then watched his draft stock in '16 slip to the fourth round. The Tigers saw last season at West Michigan and at Lakeland a pitcher who was cut straight from his 2015, first-round status. Expect him to be a rapid-climber in 2018 — if he can get his body to cooperate.
9. Kyle Funkhouser, 23, RH starter, 6-2, 220: Credit the Tigers' scouts on this call. No one says he's a sure thing. He needs to show he can pitch 150 sturdy innings. But the big-picture view of Funkhouser is that the Tigers probably stole a first-round arm with a fourth-round draft pick in 2016. He has missed most of last season’s second half because of an elbow strain. But there wasn’t any ligament damage and most of Funkhouser's issues can be traced to nearly a year on the sidelines after he was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2015 and decided against signing. He instead opted for a reunion with the University of Louisville, where he got his degree, then watched his draft stock in '16 slip to the fourth round. The Tigers saw last season at West Michigan and at Lakeland a pitcher who was cut straight from his 2015, first-round status. Expect him to be a rapid-climber in 2018 — if he can get his body to cooperate. Mike Janes, Associated Press
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10. Dawel Lugo, 23, 2B, 6-foot, 190: He was another of the poker chips sent Detroit's way when the Tigers last July forwarded J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks. He is considered a middle infielder, but the Tigers are thinking of him more as a second baseman, if not a third baseman, as he settles in at Double A Erie. They also have hopes his right-handed bat will progress, which, again, means fans might or might not see in Lugo a player whose offense matches his defense. But he has slammed 46 home runs in his relatively short minor-league life and the Tigers are content to let Lugo evolve as he moves potentially closer to becoming Ian Kinsler's replacement at second. One fact not always known about Lugo: He got a whopping $1.3 million from the Blue Jays to sign as a 16-year-old. No one of credible perspective has whispered the word “bust.”
10. Dawel Lugo, 23, 2B, 6-foot, 190: He was another of the poker chips sent Detroit's way when the Tigers last July forwarded J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks. He is considered a middle infielder, but the Tigers are thinking of him more as a second baseman, if not a third baseman, as he settles in at Double A Erie. They also have hopes his right-handed bat will progress, which, again, means fans might or might not see in Lugo a player whose offense matches his defense. But he has slammed 46 home runs in his relatively short minor-league life and the Tigers are content to let Lugo evolve as he moves potentially closer to becoming Ian Kinsler's replacement at second. One fact not always known about Lugo: He got a whopping $1.3 million from the Blue Jays to sign as a 16-year-old. No one of credible perspective has whispered the word “bust.” Mike Janes, Associated Press
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    Los Angeles — Detroit Tigers draft picks Casey Mize and Kody Clemens were among four finalists for the USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player.

    But both fell short in the voting to University of California first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who became the first player from his program to earn the honor.

    Vaughn earned the 2018 Pac-12 Player of the Year award, hitting .402 in his sophomore season with 14 doubles, a school-recording tying 23 homers and 63 RBIs.

    He is the eighth player from the conference to win the award after Bob Horner (1978), Terry Francona (1980), Oddibe McDowell (1984), Mike Kelly (1991), Mark Prior (2001), Tim Lincecum (2006) and Trevor Bauer (2011).

    More: Tigers ponder where to place new talent plucked from June's draft

    Mize, a right-handed starting pitcher and No. 1 overall pick, anchored Auburn's rotation and posted a 10-6 record with a 3.30 ERA, 156 strikeouts and 16 walks in 114.2 innings. Clemens, a second baseman at Texas, batted .351 and led the Longhorns in hits (87), runs scored (58), home runs (24), RBIs (72) and slugging percentage (.726).

    Mize and Clemens, who were Detroit's first- and third-round selections in the MLB Draft earlier this month, have both signed with the Tigers.

    More: Tigers sign No. 1 draft pick Casey Mize after 'very smooth' talks

    Florida right-hander Brady Singer was the other finalist.

    About 200 people cast ballots among national baseball media, select professional baseball personnel, previous winners and select USA Baseball staff. Those votes counted for 95 percent of the total, with fan balloting accounting for the remainder.

    Golden Spikes winners

    2018 — Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California

    2017 — Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, Louisville

    2016 — Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer

    2015 — Andrew Benintendi, OF, Arkansas

    2014 — A.J. Reed, INF-P, Kentucky

    2013 — Kris Bryant, INF, San Diego

    2012 — Mike Zunino, C, Florida

    2011 — Trevor Bauer, P, UCLA

    2010 — Bryce Harper, C, Southern Nevada

    2009 — Stephen Strasburg, P, San Diego State

    2008 — Buster Posey, C, Florida State

    2007 — David Price, P, Vanderbilt

    2006 — Tim Lincecum, P, Washington

    2005 — Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska

    2004 — Jered Weaver, P, Long Beach State

    2003 — Rickie Weeks, INF, Southern U.

    2002 — Khalil Greene, SS, Clemson

    2001 — Mark Prior, P, Southern California

    2000 — Kip Bouknight, P, South Carolina

    1999 — Jason Jennings, P-DH, Baylor

    1998 — Pat Burrell, 3B, Miami

    1997 — J.D. Drew, OF, Florida State

    1996 — Travis Lee, 1B, San Diego State

    1995 — Mark Kotsay, OF, Cal State-Fullerton

    1994 — Jason Varitek, C, Georgia Tech

    1993 — Darren Dreifort, P, Wichita State

    1992 — Phil Nevin, C, Cal State-Fullerton

    1991 — Mike Kelly, OF, Arizona State

    1990 — Alex Fernandez, P, Miami-Dade South

    1989 — Ben McDonald, P, Louisiana State

    1988 — Robin Ventura, 3B, Oklahoma State

    1987 — Jim Abbott, P, Michigan

    1986 — Mike Loynd, P, Florida State

    1985 — Will Clark, 1B, Mississippi State

    1984 — Oddibe McDowell, OF, Arizona State

    1983 — Dave Magadan, INF, Alabama

    1982 — Augie Schmidt, INF, New Orleans

    1981 — Mike Fuentes, OF, Florida State

    1980 — Terry Francona, OF, Arizona

    1979 — Tim Wallach, INF, Cal State-Fullerton

    1978 — Bob Horner, INF, Arizona State

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