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Detroit Tigers top 10 prospects for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

TAMPA, FL - JUL 31: 2018 1st overall pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Casey Mize of the Flying Tigers delivers a pitch to the plate during the Florida State League game between the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Dunedin Blue Jays on July 31, 2018, at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JUL 31: 2018 1st overall pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, Casey Mize of the Flying Tigers delivers a pitch to the plate during the Florida State League game between the Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Dunedin Blue Jays on July 31, 2018, at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers
SURPRISE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: AFL East All-Star, Daz Cameron #13 of the Detroit Tigers bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

6. Daz Cameron, OF

Birthday: 1/15/1997 (21)
Acquired: Trade with Houston Astros, August 2017
Level(s): high-A Lakeland, AA Erie, AAA Toledo
Statistics: .264/.343/.406, 126 G, 534 PA, 25 2B, 9 3B, 8 HR, 24 SB, 9.7% BB, 25.7% K

Originally drafted by the Houston Astros in a move that gave him a significant signing bonus out of high school in Georgia in 2015, Daz Cameron has long been connected to his father Mike Cameron and compared to him. Whether that’s fair or not, that’s going to be the fate of any son of a former MLB ballplayer.

On his own merits, Cameron is an incredible athlete, with raw plus power and raw double-plus speed. However, turning that raw athleticism into polish on the field has been a challenge for Cameron, finally seeing progress over the last two seasons after two years in the minors showing struggles.

Defensively, Cameron may not be the defender that his father is, but he has good instincts and plays above-average defense in center with enough arm to handle either corner. That defensive versatility gives him a high floor when combined with his raw offensive tools.

It’s polishing those offensive tools that will determine Daz’s future path. He jumped up three levels of the Detroit Tigers system in 2018 with solid production that would play well at the top of the order. He does need to polish his base-stealing instincts, but his plus speed would allow him to be a factor on the basepaths with some additional work.

He should be able to work his way to the majors in 2019 at some point, likely opening either at AA or AAA this year, but without a clear answer for the future in center in Detroit, Cameron could establish himself with a big 2019.

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