Here are the Tigers' 2024 Top 30 prospects
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The Tigers embarked on an organizational shift seven years ago when then-general manager Al Avila declared that after years of free-agent signings, the club would build from within its farm system. Scott Harris echoed that philosophy when Detroit hired him as president of baseball operations two years ago. The fruits of that effort are now all over the organization.
When the Tigers open their season March 28 against the White Sox, Tarik Skubal will be their first homegrown Opening Day starter since Justin Verlander. The top half of their batting order could all be homegrown players, with Colt Keith, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter in the middle and Parker Meadows potentially leading off. With Miguel Cabrera retired, the face of the franchise is up for debate, but chances are, it’s a young face.
Two waves of drafted-and-developed talent have changed the identity of this club. The scary part for the rest of the AL Central is that more is on the way. The Tigers boast one of baseball’s top farm systems, with potentially 14 of their Top 30 prospects projected to play in the Majors this year. They have three of MLB Pipeline’s Top 25 overall prospects. They keep finding creative ways to add talent; just last month, Detroit swapped international spending pool money with San Diego for lefty prospect Blake Dickerson.
Three of the Tigers’ top four affiliates finished with winning records. Two made their respective league’s postseason. Double-A Erie won its first Eastern League title in franchise history.
There’s a lot to like about the Tigers’ system these days, which is why Harris repeatedly emphasizes building Detroit’s roster in a way that earmarks opportunities for prospects to earn their place in Detroit. If the Tigers can break their 10-year postseason drought this season, they’ll have the farm to thank.
Here’s a look at the Tigers’ top prospects:
1. Max Clark, OF (MLB No. 13)
2. Colt Keith, 3B/2B (MLB No. 22)
3. Jackson Jobe, RHP (MLB No. 25)
4. Jace Jung, 2B/3B (MLB No. 60)
5. Ty Madden, RHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:
Jump: Keider Montero, RHP (2023: NR | 2024: 9)
Montero was on the fringe of the Top 30 rankings for a couple years until his breakout 2023 season, which vaulted him from High-A West Michigan eventually up to Triple-A Toledo. By adding fastball command to his nasty duet of high-spin breaking pitches, he became a highly-rated starter.
Fall: Peyton Graham, SS/2B (2023: 6 | 2024: 26)
While fellow 2022 Draft pick Jace Jung is knocking on Detroit’s door for an MLB debut sometime this year, Graham -- the Tigers’ second-round pick in that Draft -- has yet to reach High-A. Injuries haven’t helped, but the former 20-homer, 34-steal stud at Oklahoma has yet to make an impact at the plate.
Top 30s
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
NLC: CIN | CHC | MIL | PIT | STL
ALC: CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIN
NLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Max Clark (Colt Keith, Kevin McGonigle)
Power: 60 -- Colt Keith (Jace Jung)
Run: 70 -- Max Clark
Arm: 65 -- Max Clark
Defense: 60 -- Max Clark (Parker Meadows)
Fastball: 65 -- Jackson Jobe
Curveball: 60 -- Keider Montero (Wilmer Flores)
Slider: 70 -- Jackson Jobe
Changeup: 60 -- Jackson Jobe
Control: 60 -- Jackson Jobe
How they were built
Draft: 18 | International: 6 | Trade: 5 | NDFA: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2024: 14 | 2025: 6 | 2026: 4 | 2027: 5 | 2028: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 3 | INF: 1 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 2 | SS: 4 | OF: 5 | RHP: 8 | LHP: 3