Detroit Tigers: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Tigers' Farm System

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski has never been one to be patient with his prospects. In fact, this franchise has been one of the most aggressive in all of Major League Baseball over the last five years. 

They will trade prospects at the drop of a hat if it means improving the big league club right now, with Miguel Cabrera being the best example. They are also not afraid to promote their players quickly. Rick Porcello made his debut in 2009 at 20 years old after one season in the minors. 

It is no secret that the big league team is going to compete for a playoff spot this season, but the system does have quite a few intriguing players who could play some role in the team's success or failure in 2012.

Here are the five prospects that Tigers' fans will be keeping a close eye on as the season gets underway. 

1. Jacob Turner, RHP, 20

For the first time all offseason, we are going to talk about Turner's ability on the field and not a potential trade. You can understand why so many teams would covet him, but the Tigers decided against giving him up, at least for now. He was another young pitcher that they moved aggressively--he made his big league debut last September, throwing 13 innings in three games with an 8.53 ERA. 

Strengths: Turner is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball thanks to his strong arsenal of pitches and advanced feel at such a young age. He has ideal size at 6'5" 210 pounds, and gets on top of his pitches. His delivery is clean and easy, allowing him to generate arm speed and throw his sinking fastball in the low- to mid-90s. His curveball and changeup are both plus pitches that help him miss a lot of bats. 

Weaknesses: There are no major red flags with Turner right now. He hasn't missed as many bats in the minors as you would expect someone with his stuff, but because his fastball moves so much he can induce a lot of ground balls. 

Report: The Tigers could give Turner the Rick Porcello treatment this year and put him in the back of their rotation. He does need more time in the minors to tweak some things. He should be a dominant No. 2 starter when he gets more experience. 

ETA: 2012

2. Nick Castellanos, 3B, 19

Castellanos is by far the Tigers best position player prospect. He had a strong first season in low Class A, hitting .312/.367/.436 in 2011. Despite those strong numbers, he did strikeout 130 times. He is still adjusting to the hot corner, but shows enough promise to project as an above-average defender. 

Strengths: The Tigers drafted Castellanos on the strength of his bat, and his performance last year only confirmed what they knew. He has a strong approach at the plate, good discipline and a compact swing that will allow him to make contact. His defense is still a work-in progress, though he does have good lateral movement with range and a good arm. 

Weaknesses: The strikeouts last season were a bit concerning, but that can be a product of his ability to work the count. He might not be a prolific power hitter, but his swing is good enough to think that he can average 20 homers per season. He has only played third base for two years, so he has to get better reacting to the ball off the bat. He has below-average speed. 

Report: Castellanos is the team's third baseman of the future. He has a strong approach at the plate that allows him to hit for a high average and on-base percentage. He did show some improvement defensively last year, though he still has to be more accurate with his throws to first. 

ETA: 2015

3. Drew Smyly, LHP 22

Once you get past Turner and Castellanos, there is a drop in impact talent, but there are a number of players that can be solid big league contributors. Smyly does not have the "wow" factor, though he does understand how to pitch. 

Strengths: Smyly's average stuff gets played up because of his excellent command and feel. He has a deep arsenal of pitches, including a good curveball and slider. His changeup has good fade to it, and has enough separation from his fastball to get hitters to swing and miss. He has a smooth delivery and his pitches jump on hitters because he hides the ball well.  

Weaknesses: He does not have dominant stuff. His fastball sits in the high-80s, but he has been known to crank it up to the low-90s. Injuries have hampered him at various points throughout his career, including an elbow problem when he was in college. 

Report: As long as he can stay on the mound, Smyly should end up being a mid-rotation starter because of his command. He has a strong knowledge of how to pitch, and he isn't afraid to attack hitters in any count. 

ETA: 2014

4. Tyler Collins, OF, 21

I readily admit that this is an aggressive spot for Collins considering he played last year in rookie and short season ball. But I like his upside more than some other players that have played in full season leagues. 

Strengths: If Collins is going to make it to the big leagues, his bat is going to carry him there. He does tend to over-swing, leading to some contact problems, but he has good bat speed and a good approach at the plate. He has good speed that will allow him to steal 10-15 bases when he gets comfortable on the bases. 

Weaknesses: He doesn't have a defined defensive position. He doesn't read the ball well off the bat, making him a liability in center. He doesn't have a strong arm, which hurts him if he moves to a corner position. Despite good power numbers last year, Collins is not likely to be a big home run hitter. 

Report: Collins does not hit enough to be a designated hitter, doesn't have enough range to play center and his below-average throwing arm won't play in left field. He could be a good hitter for average with 15 homers, but he has to find a position to play. 

ETA: 2015

5. Rob Brantly, C, 22

Brantly is an intriguing prospect. He has the ability to produce solid offensive numbers for a catcher, but his defense is going to determine his role in the big leagues. He still has plenty of work to do before he proves he can handle being an everyday backstop. 

Strengths: Brantly has a good catcher's body at 6'2" 188 pounds. He has a strong throwing arm, and is very agile for a catcher. He has a nice left-handed swing, short and compact to the ball. He does not have a lot of power, but he will grow into a double-digit home run threat. 

Weaknesses: Defense has never been his calling card. He doesn't receive or block well behind the plate, and he relies on his arm strength to throw out base stealers. He has a below-average approach at the plate, with no discipline and an inability to draw walks. 

Report: If he can figure out how to be adequate at catcher, he could turn into a solid big leaguer. He may never take a lot of walks, but he makes enough contact to hit for a good average. Worst-case scenario, he is a backup in The Show. 

ETA: 2015

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