It’s been five years since 2019 and that’s roughly when you start to see prospects start to make their impact so today, we are going to take a look back at the Top 10 prospects for the Detroit Tigers by MLB Pipeline and where they are at now as we are seven weeks into the 2024 season.
2019 Top 10 Prospects
1.) RHP – Casey Mize
Mize has had a roller coaster career that has been plagued by injuries. The Tigers drafted Mize with the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his debut on August 19, 2020, against the White Sox going 4.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. In 2021 was the only season he made more than nine starts, it looks as if he will eclipse that this season. In his career, he is 8-15 in 47 starts with a 4.14 ERA, a 4.70 FIP, a 1.20 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts in 232.1 innings.
2.) RHP – Matt Manning
Manning has been up and down with the Tigers after being drafted by them ninth overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. He made his debut on June 17, 2021, against the Angels going five innings giving up two runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out three. In his Tigers tenure, he’s made 49 starts going 11-15 with a 4.37 ERA, a 4.42 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP, and 177 strikeouts in 249 innings.
3.) RHP – Franklin Perez
Perez was signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent in 2014, he was a part of the trade that sent Justin Verlander to Houston. He is now playing independent baseball. He only spent four seasons in the Tigers system never making it past High-A.
4.) 1B – Isaac Paredes
Paredes was signed as an international free agent with the Cubs and the Tigers acquired him in a trade that included Alex Avila and Justin Wilson heading to Chicago and Paredes and Jeimer Candelario heading to Detroit, he would later be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2022 for Austin Meadows. He played two seasons with the Tigers hitting .215 with a .592 OPS; he had seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, 11 RBI, and 14 runs scored. With Tampa Bay he is hitting .243 with a .813 OPS; 46 doubles, 59 home runs, 166 RBI, and 137 runs scored.
5.) OF – Daz Cameron
Cameron was drafted by the Astros with the 37th overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft. He was acquired by the Tigers in the Justin Verlander trade. Since then he’s struggled to stick being claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles in 2022 and then signing with the A’s on November 17, 2023. With the Tigers he played in 73 games hitting .201 with a .597 OPS; he had ten doubles, two triples, five home runs, 24 RBI, and 26 runs scored.
6.) RHP – Beau Burrows
Burrows was drafted with the 22nd overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. He made his debut with the Tigers in 2020 going 2.1 innings giving up three runs on three hits; he walked one and didn’t record a strikeout. With the Tigers, he made six appearances without a decision posting an 8.64 ERA, a 7.87 FIP, a 1.56 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He was claimed off waivers by the Twins in June of 2021 and has since been in the Dodgers, Braves, Twins, and Phillies systems; he is currently with the Phillies in Triple-A.
7.) INF – Willi Castro
Castro signed with the Indians as an international free agent in 2013. He was traded to the Tigers in 2018 for Kyle Dowdy and Leonys Martin. He played in 303 games hitting .245 with a .673 OPS; he had 43 doubles, 11 triples, 24 home runs, 101 RBI, and 134 runs scored. He signed as a free agent with the Twins on December 23, 2022, where he spent the last two seasons.
8.) OF – Christian Stewart
Stewart was drafted with the 34th overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft by the Tigers. He played in 157 games hitting .225 with a .676 OPS; he had 29 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 59 RBI, and 45 runs scored. Following 2021 he was granted free agency and signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 2022 season and would be granted free agency following that season. He is currently playing for Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League.
9.) OF – Parker Meadows
Meadows was drafted in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Tigers, and he got his call-up last season appearing in 37 games hitting .232 with a .699 OPS; he had four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 13 RBI, and 19 runs scored. He was named the 2024 Opening Day center fielder but after a rough start in which he hit .096, he was sent down to Triple-A Toledo to try to get things figured out.
10.) RHP – Alex Faedo
Faedo was drafted by the Tigers twice first out of high school in the 40th round of the 2014 MLB Draft but he chose to attend the University of Florida and then the Tigers selected him with the 18th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. He made his debut on May 4, 2022, going five innings giving up two runs on eight hits; he walked one and struck out one. In his three seasons up with the Tigers including this season, he’s made 42 appearances with 24 of those coming as starts going 6-11 with a 4.54 ERA, a 4.67 FIP, a 1.26 WHIP, and 124 strikeouts in 144.2 innings.
Honorable Mention
12.) INF/OF – Wenceel Perez
Perez was signed as an international free agent and following his impressive spring training and his start in Triple-A he is currently up with the Tigers for his first season in the big leagues, he is hitting .289 with a .841 OPS in 26 games; he has three doubles, two triples, three home runs, eight RBI, and 12 runs scored.
13.) Jake Rogers
Rogers was drafted by the Astros in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He was traded to the Tigers as a part of the Verlander trade. He has played in 208 games for the Tigers with a .204 average and a .678 OPS; he has 22 doubles, three triples, 33 home runs, 79 RBI, and 89 runs scored.
14.) Kody Clemens
Clemens was drafted by the Tigers in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his debut during the 2022 season with Detroit playing in 56 games and hitting .145. He was traded to the Phillies in January of 2023 with Gregory Soto in exchange for Nick Maton, Donny Sands, and Matt Vierling. With the Phillies, he’s played in 55 games hitting .234.
19.) Spencer Turnbull
Turnbull was drafted by the Tigers in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his debut on September 14, 2018, going one inning, he didn’t allow a hit, a run, or a walk, and he struck out one. On Monday 18, 2021, Turnbull no-hit the Mariners, he walked two and struck out nine. His season was cut short as he underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned to the Tigers in 2023 making seven starts going 1-4 with a 7.26 ERA, a 5.55 FIP, a 1.67 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 31 innings. He was granted free agency following the 2023 season and signed with the Phillies on February 14, 2024. This season he’s made nine appearances with six of those coming as starts going 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA, a 3.66 FIP, a 0.91 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
20.) Tarik Skubal
Skubal was drafted by the Tigers in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his debut on August 18, 2020, going two innings and giving up four runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out one. Entering 2024 he earned the title of the Tigers ace, he had struggled with injuries but when he returned in 2023 he was named American League Pitcher of the Month in September going 4-0 in five starts with a 0.90 ERA, a 1.32 FIP, a 0.60 WHIP, a 12.90 K/9, and a 1.20 BB/9. To start this season through eight starts he is 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA, a 2.01 FIP, a 0.85 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 49 innings.
26.) Gregory Soto
Soto signed as an international free agent in 2012. He made 186 appearances with seven of those coming as starts going 8-20 with a 4.13 ERA, a 4.29 FIP, a 1.49 WHIP, 50 saves, and 210 strikeouts in 204.2 innings. He was traded to the Phillies along with Kody Clemens for Nick Maton, Donny Sands, and Matt Vierling. He’s made 85 appearances for the Phillies going 3-5 with a 4.98 ERA, a 3.56 FIP, a 1.30 WHIP, five saves, and 78 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.
