Detroit Tiger's Top 20 Position Prospects

Not a terribly stellar group here.

A reminder that I cobbled together a lame letter/number system as a method of ranking each prospect, with the letter indicating what the player's ultimate ceiling is, and the number indicating the odds of him reaching his potential, with 1 being very likely, and 5 being not so much.

A - MVP and Cy Young candidates. Aces, and guys who are All-Stars every year.
B - Above-average players, #2 Starters, and Closers.
C - Average regulars, #3-4 starters, setup men. Might back into the AS game.
D - 5th starters/swingmen, specialists, extra outfielders, backup catchers, and utility men.
E - Quad-A players, pinch-hitters, emergency starters.


Top 20 Position Prospects

1 - Nick Castellanos - 3B - GCL - 6'4, 200 (19) - A/3 – Castellanos was a consensus top-20 player in the 2010 draft, and many considered him the among the best high-school bats in the draft. He has terrific hands and bat speed, and has shown a willingness to wait on pitches and take them the other way. He projects for at least average power, with a chance to hit 25-30 homers a year in his prime, and though he currently has average speed, he’s likely to be below average as he fills out his frame. He has more than enough arm strength to stick at third, and though he’s still raw defensively, he possesses the athleticism to be at least an average MLB third sacker. At this point, the main question about his game is what kind of hitter he’ll become. He’s Don Kelly thin right now, with skinny legs and broad shoulders, but his frame can easily handle 15-20 pounds of muscle. If and when he gains weight, it will be interesting to see if he maintains his line-drive approach, or if he begins to sell out for a bit more power. He figures to begin his first full season of professional ball in West Michigan.

2 - Daniel Fields - OF - High-A - 6'1, 200 (20) - B/3 – Fields is a very intriguing prospect who offers the most complete set of skills in the entire system. Despite those tools, and the pedigree of being the son of a former Major-Leaguer, most scouts felt Fields was a bit raw due to playing his prep ball in the North. So it was a shock to see him begin his professional career in high-A Lakeland. Perhaps even more shocking was that he held his own, despite switching positions and being the second-youngest regular in the league. He’s a legit five-tool kid, with plus power potential, plus to plus-plus speed, an above average arm, and the ability to play plus defense. The hit tool remains Fields’ biggest question mark, as he swings-and-misses frequently, and he struggles with breaking balls. However, Fields shows a very patient approach at the plate, and he finished the season with the second-highest walk rate in the FSL. Fields is still learning when to jump on pitches, his plus arm hasn’t fully translated to the outfield, and his baserunning skills remain very raw. He projects to begin the year back in Lakeland, and he could produce multiple 20-20 seasons in the Majors in his prime.

3 - Francisco Martinez - 3B - High-A - 6'1, 180 (20) - B/3 – The Tigers are extremely excited about Martinez, made evident by the fact that he skipped over low-A ball entirely, and after the season he was sent to the Arizona Fall League, where he was the youngest player this side of Bryce Harper. Given his age and lack of professional experience (117 games before this year), his performances in both Lakeland and the AFL are encouraging. Martinez projects for at least average tools across the board, with the chance of being a true five-tool talent. His knack for centering the ball and willingness to go the opposite way give him the potential to perhaps be a .300 hitter in his prime, and he has above-average speed that plays up thanks to very good baserunning instincts. Defensively, he has an above-average arm, good range, and soft hands, giving him the potential to be a plus defender overall. The main question at this point is whether Martinez will ever turn his above-average power potential into usable game power. If he does, he has legitimate All-star potential. The Tigers will continue to push him, and the generous home park in AA Erie may help him realize that power sooner than later.

4 - Rob Brantly - C - Low-A - 6'3, 205 (21) - B/3 – Heading into 2010, Brantly was considered by many to be the best College backstop after Bryce Harper, thanks in part to winning the batting title in the wood-bat Northwoods League in 2009. But a couple of college catchers broke out in a big way in 2010, while Brantly remained merely solid, and thus the Tigers were able to grab him in the third round as a draft-eligible sophomore. Brantly’s strength right now is his bat, where he uses quick hands and a short swing to spray line drives around the park. He also shows good pitch recognition and plate discipline, and he has solid power down the lines, with the potential to add more. Like most catchers, he is a below-average runner, but he isn’t the kind of guy who will clog the basepaths. His arm strength is average, but he has a quick release, and while he still has to work on his blocking and receiving skills, he projects as a possible plus defender. If he gets enough time to develop, Brantly has legitimate All-star potential. He should probably get at least another 60 games in at West Michigan, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Tigers push him to Lakeland.

5 - Wade Gaynor - 3B - Low-A - 6'3, 225 (22) - C/3 – Gaynor’s professional career began with a thud when he posted a .192/.281/.282 triple-slash for the Tigers’ short-season A–ball affiliate. But Detroit’s 3rd round pick in 2009 out of Western Kentucky started to tap into his potential last year at West Michigan, where he posted a .789 OPS. Gaynor’s best tool is probably his above-average raw power, which could push into plus territory in his prime. He shows the potential to be an average hitter, though he’s more likely to hit in the .250-.260 range. Gaynor is extremely athletic, and despite his big frame, he shows above-average to plus speed. Defense is the biggest question mark for Gaynor. He has a strong arm and makes all the plays he needs to, but he shows awkward actions and most scouts think he’ll have to move to the outfield in the Majors. He has the ability to handle such a move, but his power will have to fully develop for him to stick. He’ll stay at 3rd until he’s forced to move though, and that’s where he’ll play in Lakeland this year.

Check out the rest of the prospect rankings here