SportBlurb Top 10 Prospects
http://www.sportsblurb.com/farm8.htm
The Detroit Tigers
More than anything else during the Randy Smith years in Detroit, the farm
system really took a hit. Several prospects during those years did not pan
out, so President and GM Dave Dombrowski was left with a huge void.
Gradually, this system is continuing to improve. While there is still only
one upper echelon prospect, they look like they have a lot more potential
major league players than two years ago.
1. Tony Giarratano, SS:
A third round pick in 2003, Giarratano has emerged as one of the top
shortstop prospects in the game. He is a prototypical shortstop with good
contact ability, good speed and great defense. He hit above .370 in over 200
at-bats in High-A last season at the age of 21 after hitting .285 in Low-A
during the first half of the season. With 25 steals last season, he has some
very nice potential for fantasy owners as well. The Tulane alum could move
quickly up the system and has the polish to help in the majors immediately
upon his arrival.
ETA: 2006
2. Curtis Granderson, OF:
The third round is turning into a very profitable place for the Tigers.
Drafted in the third round in 2002, Granderson hit .303-21-93 with a much
improved an 80/95 BB/K ratio and 14 steals last season in Double-A at the age
of 23. The Tigers could give him a chance to win an outfield corner spot in
2005 if they do not sign any outfield free agents, so this is a dark horse
Rookie of the Year candidate with the ability to have a solid major league
career.
ETA: 2005
3. Joel Zumaya, SP:
Zumaya has a nasty fastball/slider combination, but injuries and control
woes have prevented him from looking like an ace in the minors. After
dominating in Low-A during 2003 at the age of 18, Zumaya really struggled in
High-A and Double-A last season. However, with his high strikeout rate and
two major league pitches he continues to show plenty of promise.
ETA: 2006
4. Justin Verlander, SP:
The Tigers signed Verlander, their 2004 first round pick, to a major league
contract recently. The former Old Dominion pitcher can reach the high-90s in
velocity and posted some outstanding strikeout rates in college. The Tigers
should start him in Low-A next season and hope that he moves more smoothly
than 2003 top pick Kyle Sleeth.
ETA: 2007
5. Kyle Sleeth, SP:
It was a good first pro year for the third overall pick in the 2003 draft
until he arrived to Double-A. There, his control was more lacking. Sleeth's
stuff does not turn heads, but he has a wide repertoire and usually controls
his pitches well. A 6.30 ERA in Double-A simply will not cut it for Sleeth as
he looks to move up, so 2005 could be a make or break year for him.
ETA: 2006
6. Ryan Raburn, 2B:
The Tigers have shifted Raburn from third base to second base with excellent
results. The 23-year-old hit .301-16-63 in Double-A last season, thus
solidifying himself on the prospect map. Lack of contact had been a problem for
him previously, but he now looks like a potential Jeff Kent type of player.
ETA: 2006
7. Eulogio de la Cruz, RP:
De la Cruz is your typical closing prospect, but being able to throw in the
upper-80s at the age of 20 and under six feet tall makes him seem impressive.
Like most young prospects that throw as hard as he does, control is a serious
problem with 33 walks in 54 innings pitched in Low-A last season. The good
news is that de la Cruz still has time to improve and is coming in under for
the radar for the Tigers.
ETA: 2006
8. Juan Tejeda, 1B:
If Tejeda's power stands the test of time, he could end up starting in the
majors. The 22-year-old hit .289-23-92 in Double-A last season, showing his
first burst of power. Previously he had been a high batting average hitter
with average plate discipline. Most scouts do not think he has enough power
to continue his climb toward the majors, so 2005 is a huge year in Triple-A
for him to prove the naysayers wrong.
ETA: 2006
9. David Espinosa, OF:
A former shortstop prospect and first round pick in Cincinnati, Espinosa did
not have the defense to stick it out at that position. After he was shifted
to the outfield by Detroit, he began to hit much more. At age 22 last season,
he hit .264-19-52 with 20 steals and 80 walks. Strikeouts are a problem for
him and could prevent any possibility of posting a high enough batting average
to start in an outfield corner, but it is way too soon to count him out as a
prospect just yet following his statistical breakout.
ETA: 2006
10. Jay Sborz, SP:
A second round pick out of high school in 2003, Sborz is a starter with
closer potential due to a mid-90s fastball. He struggled in the Rookie League
last season due to 44 walks in just 60.1 innings pitched, so the challenge
will be gaining enough control to move up the minor league ranks and into the
majors. But if he does develop that control, he has loads of potential.
ETA: 2007
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