WTSBaseball: Prospect Preview
It’s here. It’s finally here. The first actual game of spring training. Right now, at the time of this writing, the Detroit Tigers are facing off against the New York Yankees (and losing) in the inaugural exhibition game of the spring. We did it y’all. We made it.
Editor’s Note - The Tigers lost to the Yankees 22-10. Blake Corum rushed for 89 yards and a TD.
Wait hold on.
My personal favorite part of Spring Training, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, is watching the prospects play. While many of them will soon be told they won’t make the 26-man roster, or reassigned to minor league camp, I love getting the chance to catch them in real-time action. So, I thought this would be the perfect time to highlight the Tigers’ Top 5 prospects. You can look up the top 100 somewhere else, I ain’t got time for that.
For the first time in many, MANY years, the Tigers have a Top-10 farm system according to The Athletic at #6 and #3 overall according to ESPN. The Tigers have 6 prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100. I can’t tell you how good that feels. So, let's take a look at what we got! I will discuss the top 5 in the Motor City. This is my evaluation of them, so if you don’t like it, let me know and I’ll change it, I just want to be liked.
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Jackson Jobe RHP
Jackson Jobe was the Tigers’ 1st round draft pick and 3rd overall in 2021 as a high schooler. I will admit, I was incredibly infuriated with this pick especially when Marcelo Mayer was still on the table and was picked literally right after Jobe by the Red Sox. Jobe had a rough start to his 2022 campaign and missed most of his 2023 season with a lumbar injury, but was excellent in his return to the mound mid-june of last year. Posting a 2.81 ERA and an OUTRAGEOUS 84/6 K/BB ratio in 64 innings over four levels of pro ball. 84 Ks…in 64 innings. That’ll play. His fastball currently sits around 94-97 with A LOT of movement. And he has his patented wipe-out slider at around 85 mph with a spin rate of well over 3000 rpm and 10-17 inches of vertical break. In 2023 he added a cut-fastball that now makes him as tough on lefties as he is on righties. The goal for this year would be to reach the 100+ inning mark and stay healthy. While I don’t think we will see him this year, I would be surprised if he wasn't in the conversation for 2025. Did I mention that when the Tigers drafted him, he had only pitched in high school for one year? This better work Al.
Colt Keith 2B/3B
Barring injury or something insane, Colt Keith is likely to be the Tigers’ Opening Day 2B for 2024. However, I am still including him here as he is yet to have an AB in the majors. Keith was a 5th round draft pick in the COVID shortened 2020 draft. Injuries over his first two professional seasons limited him to just 113 games. Not much to write home about in the stat department either. However, he broke out in a major way in 2023. Over the course of last year he slashed.306/.380/.552 with 27 homers in 126 games between Double-A and Triple-A. His 68 extra-base hits and 280 total bases ranked third and fifth among Minor Leaguers last year. He also hit this 473-foot rainmaker with the Mudhens. Woof. The Tigers signed him to a 6-year $28 million contract this offseason, and he is one that I am most excited about.
Max Clark OF
Now, depending on where you look, Max Clark and Jackson Jobe are interchangeable. I have him 3rd only because he has very few professional innings under his Fanatics’ jersey belt (UGH). Max was selected #3 overall (Wow, the Tigers really have had a lot of bad seasons, huh?) and was the 2023 Gatorade National Player of the Year out of Indiana after hitting .646/.808/1.215 (!!!) during his senior season at Franklin Community HS last spring. Max was one of many high schoolers drafted by the Tigers this past year. Scott Harris is playing a dangerous game, but I trust him. After the draft, Clark steamrolled through the Florida Complex League. He slashed .283/.411/.543 in 12 games before getting a quick look at Single-A Lakeland. Where he walked 12 times in 11 games, but did little else offensively. Nothing humbles you more than baseball. I like Max Clark. He has blazing speed and is a solid contact hitter. He gives the Tigers four plus, and maybe even double-plus tools. The one thing scouts are a little concerned with is his power. However, I think that will come. He has the bat speed to do it. All a matter of time.
Parker Meadows OF
Now, some of you might be saying, hey Ben, Parker played last year, does he still count as a prospect? My blog, my rules. So, yes. He also has less than 130 ABs, which is the cut off for rookie status. Parker is a fun one. He has electric speed and is an absolute stud in the outfield. Check out this catch, oh, and this one. Parker also has some power in that bat. Who could forget his first career home run (Shout out Dan for the amazing call). One of the most electric parts of last year. Parker had an excellent start to his major league career finishing with a slash line of .232/.331/.368 with 3 homers, 13 RBI, and 8 SB in 37 games. He may potentially be our Opening Day CF. Looking forward to watching a full year of him on the diamond.
Jace Jung 2B/3B
The brother of Texas Ranger phenom Josh Jung; Jace, is quickly rising through Detroit’s minor league system. Jung was named the 2021 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year at Texas Tech by hitting .337/.462/.697 with 21 homers in 56 games. That propelled him to become the 12th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. Hey, look! The Tigers didn’t have a top ten pick that year!! Sobs. Jace absolutely torched his first pro season. He was second only to Spencer Torkelson in the organization in homers. He hit 28 bombs while finishing with a .265/.376/.502 line over 128 games between High-A West Michigan (horrible stadium, make it look better) and Double-A Erie. While Jung’s defensive metrics need some work - especially in the range department - His offensive prowess is too good to ignore. He is another name to watch for 2025. Maaaayyyyyybbbbeeeee a September call up in 2024 if things go well for him.
Honorable Mentions - Look these guys up if you want
RHP Ty Madden
2B/SS Kevin McGonigle
3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy
RHP Wilmer Flores
There you have it! The Top 5 prospects for the Tigers according to the smartest man writing this blog. The future is bright for the Detroit Tigers. Now, let's go accidentally make the playoffs.
