Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018
We have reached the point of the offseason where prospect lists abound. We continue our top 10 prospects for every team with the Detroit Tigers!
Our team top 10 prospect lists at Call to the Pen are spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten prospects for the Detroit Tigers.
This season, we will be going through teams by division, in order of 2017 record. The AL East will be first, followed by the AL Central and AL West. Then the focus will shift to the National League in the same order.
The format will be as it was last season for the same lists, with a system review, which will include last season’s list. The top 10 will follow in reverse order, two players per page in order to give adequate space to each player. Major trades or international signings will lead to an updated top 10!
Finally, don’t go away after #1 is revealed as each list will also contain a player either signed in the 2017 international free agent class or drafted in 2017 that isn’t part of the top 10 and should be tracked. Last season’s mentions in that area made over half of the top 10s this season, so this is a great way to get to know a player who could be making a big splash in the organization.
System overview
Two seasons ago, many could have argued the Detroit Tigers system as one of the 3 worst in all of the major leagues, and there would not have been much fight back, from even the most ardent Tigers supporter.
However, the past three drafts and a number of well-done trades have dramatically increased the talent in the Detroit system such that the Tigers are now around the middle of the pack in talent.
The Detroit Tigers were always able to develop talent, even when they were trading away many of those young players in order to supplement their major league runs. Now that the team is in the process of rebuilding their franchise, the Tigers will be able to continue pushing for depth in their farm system.
Right now, the farm system is rich in arms, with some high ceiling position players that won’t be on this list but could make their way into the top 10 very soon!
Let’s take a look at that system….
Next: #9 and #10