Stock Up, Stock Down for the Detroit Tigers' Top 10 Prospects for Week 7
As the Detroit Tigers compete daily in the major leagues, the club’s affiliate teams are also well into the swing down in the minors.
Eight of the Tigers’ top 10 prospects currently play at one of four different minor league levels. Now up with the Tigers, outfielder Tyler Collins and catcher James McCann are the two exceptions.
With a win-now mentality these days in Motown, some of the organization’s youth will end up as trade fodder. Others, such as outfielder Steven Moya, will be left untouched in their inexorable climb to the big club.
Whatever the fate of these youngsters, it would be remiss not to take an occasional peek at their progress. The rise or fall of a player’s stock will hinge on his productivity during the recently completed Week 7. Let’s get to it!
10. Javier Betancourt (Second Base)
1 of 10
Team: Lakeland Flying Tigers (High-A)
Season stats: .261/.293/.317, 1 HR, 16 RBI
Last 7 days: 11-for-29, 2 2B, 3 runs, 4 RBI
Javier Betancourt just completed a very productive week for High-A Lakeland. His 11 hits raised his average to a respectable .261 for the season. His glove has also been a steady presence for the Flying Tigers. An error-free seven days lifted his fielding percentage to .982.
The second baseman punches well above his weight at the High-A level. At 20, he is the youngest player on the Lakeland roster by over a full year.
The Venezuelan has so far justified Detroit signing him as a 16-year-old four years ago. With Ian Kinsler’s contract expiring after the 2017 season, the Tigers may already have his heir lined up.
Stock: Up
9. Grayson Greiner (Catcher)
2 of 10
Team: Lakeland Tigers (High-A)
Season stats: .146/.185/.204
Last 7 days: 1-for-16, 0 BB, 6 SO
From an offensive standpoint, the past week has been a microcosm of Grayson Greiner's season. The 22-year-old managed just a solitary hit in 16 at-bats.
Greiner has shown that he can contribute offensively in the past. Last year with Class-A West Michigan, he slashed .322/.394/.444 in 26 games. Based on his history, the organization expects him to get going at the plate at some point.
On the defensive side, Greiner possesses a powerful arm from the catcher position. Last week, he threw out three of five would-be base stealers, which upped his total to 14 for the season. It’s now time for his bat to come around.
Stock: Down
8. Tyler Collins (Outfielder)
3 of 10
Team: Detroit Tigers
Season stats: (Triple-A) .248/.338/.301, (MLB) 1-for-3, BB
Last 7 days: (Triple-A) 5-for-17, 0 XBH, 1 RBI
Tyler Collins was promoted to Detroit earlier this week after designated hitter Victor Martinez was placed on the disabled list. This is the outfielder’s third stint in the big leagues after making his debut in April 2014.
It has been a largely unremarkable start to the 2015 season for Collins. His Week 7 performance was an improvement, with six base hits in 20 at-bats. All of his hits, however, were singles.
With average defensive skills and minimal speed, Detroit’s former sixth-round pick (2011) will need to do much more to convince that he’s anything more than an emergency replacement.
Stock: Even
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7. Spencer Turnbull (Starting Pitcher)
4 of 10
Team: West Michigan Whitecaps (Class-A)
Season stats: 3-1, 3.21 ERA, 30 K, 17 BB, 1.28 WHIP
Last 7 days: 1 GS, ND, 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 SO, 1 BB
Spencer Turnbull has enjoyed a solid start to the season pitching for the Class-A Whitecaps. The righty’s heater generally sits in the low to mid-90s, which, coupled with his secondary repertoire, has managed to strike out nearly a batter per inning (30 K's in 33.2 IP) so far in 2015.
The former second-round pick likes to pound the bottom half of the zone. In his solitary start this week against Bowling Green, he induced five ground balls versus zero fly balls.
Detroit would like to get more than four innings per start out of the 22-year-old, but things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Stock: Up
6. Austin Kubitza (Starting Pitcher)
5 of 10
Team: Erie SeaWolves (Double-A)
Season stats: 1-3, 4.46 ERA, 33 SO, 20 BB, 1.62 WHIP
Last 7 days: 1 GS, ND, 5 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 SO, 3 BB
Speaking of ground-ball pitchers, Austin Kubitza is another of that breed. The 23-year-old has a 2.84 ground out/fly out ratio, backing up an impressive 3.72 mark last year with West Michigan.
Kubitza has stepped up to Double-A this year and has struggled at times. The organization would have hoped for more than one win and a mediocre 4.46 ERA through seven starts. In saying that, hitter-friendly Jerry Uht Park is always a contributing factor for SeaWolves pitchers.
The righty picked up a no-decision in his last outing, going five innings and striking out two. Ten opposing hitters reached base in that contest, which is concerning.
Stock: Even
5. James McCann (Catcher)
6 of 10
Team: Detroit Tigers
Season stats: .293/.329/.421, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Last 7 days: 7-for-19, 3 2B, 2 RBI
James McCann began the season with Detroit in a lefty-righty platoon with Alex Avila. A knee injury to the latter now makes McCann the primary backstop for the Tigers.
The 24-year-old has been very good both offensively and defensively in his first full season in the majors. He has a 40 percent caught-stealing rate, and his batting average is knocking at the .300 door.
The past week has been business as usual for McCann. His seven hits included three for extra bases. His nailing of Kolten Wong at second base on Sunday night showed off his cannon arm yet again. Avila may have a bit less to do when he returns.
Stock: Up
4. Kevin Ziomek (Starting Pitcher)
7 of 10
Team: Lakeland Tigers (High-A)
Season stats: 4-3, 3.67 ERA, 53 SO, 12 BB, 1.04 WHIP
Last 7 days: 2 GS, 1-0, 15.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 16 SO, 2 BB
Kevin Ziomek, Detroit’s former second-round selection (2013), has begun the year in fine fashion. Ziomek currently leads the Lakeland squad in wins (4), strikeouts (53) and innings (49).
The 6”3’ lefty has an average fastball but some good complementary pitches. His sweeping slider and curveball give him a couple of quality swing-and-miss options.
The 23-year-old started a pair of games in the past seven days. He twirled an absolute gem in his first outing, going eight shutout innings while surrendering only three hits and no runs. He fanned eight in both of his starts.
Stock: Up
3. Buck Farmer (Starting Pitcher)
8 of 10
Team: Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)
Season stats: 4-1, 3.25 ERA, 48 SO, 16 BB, 1.15 WHIP
Last 7 days: 1 GS, ND, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB
A Tigers debutant a season ago, Buck Farmer has been very impressive in 2015. He leads all Mud Hens starters in wins (4), ERA (3.25), strikeouts (48) and WHIP (1.15).
Farmer commands his three-pitch arsenal—including fastball, slider and changeup—very well. However, his lack of a fourth pitch could result in a switch to the bullpen down the road.
The Georgia Tech product had just the one start in Week 7. He picked up a no-decision in what was his third quality start of the season. Even with only one strikeout, Farmer has more K’s (48) than innings (44.1) so far this year.
Stock: Up
2. Derek Hill (Outfielder)
9 of 10
Team: West Michigan Whitecaps (Class-A)
Season stats: .206/.281/.235, 16 SB, 6 outfield assists
Last 7 days: 8-for-32, 4 R, 5 SB
Detroit drafted Derek Hill as its first overall pick last year. At only 19, he has a long path of development ahead of him.
It is hoped that Hill will ripen into a quintessential lead-off hitter for Detroit. He has excellent range in center field and possesses a fine arm. Through 26 games this season, he already has six assists. His speed also enables him to be active on the basepaths.
It is at the plate where he must prove himself. Hill’s unedifying .206 average on the year is hardly gong to cut it long term. However, he has picked it up lately, with eight hits (.250) and four runs this past week.
Stock: Up
1. Steven Moya (Outfielder)
10 of 10
Team: Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A)
Season stats: (High-A and Triple-A), .238/.269/.397 4 HR, 16 RBI
Last 7 days: 8-for-22, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 7 SO
Steven Moya came to people’s attention with a blockbuster season at Double-A in 2014. His 35 homers and 105 RBI were both Eastern League records.
The 6’7” outfielder earned his first crack at the big show last September, with some expecting him to make the 25-man roster this spring. However, a poor March coupled with his chronic strikeout habit meant that Moya was best off with more seasoning in the minors.
A plantar fasciitis injury just before the season slowed the lefty bat down even more. However, Moya now seems to be heating up after a slow start. He belted a game-winning home run last week against Buffalo, which also happened to be his first as a Mud Hen. It was one of five extra-base hits for the big fella.
Stock: Up
Detroit's top 10 prospects are per MLB.com. Unless otherwise stated, stats in this article are courtesy of MiLB.com and MLB.com.
Hit me up on Twitter: @jdunc1979
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