Cameron highlights star-studded AFL rosters
Baez, Rogers also headline the group of 7 Tigers prospects
A year after the Justin Verlander trade, two of the three prospects the Tigers received in return from the Astros will be on display in the Arizona Fall League. Fast-rising outfielder Daz Cameron and catcher Jake Rogers, two of the top position prospects in Detroit's farm system, will play for the Mesa Solar Sox.
Double-A Erie relievers Sandy Baez and John Schreiber headline the Tigers' pitching prospects headed to the AFL, along with Eduardo Jimenez. Infielder Danny Pinero and outfielder Danny Woodrow round out the group.
The Arizona Fall League provides Major League teams a chance to give advanced prospects extra work and instruction in October and November while pitting them against top talent across the Minors. The Tigers haven't sent many of their top prospects over the last few years, but this year's group reflects the influx of talent the club has stockpiled in trades since beginning a rebuilding process last summer.
Cameron's assignment is his latest step up in a system that began for him at Class A Advanced Lakeland and will end in Triple-A Toledo, having been promoted to the Mud Hens two weeks ago. The athletic center fielder, who is the son of former Major Leaguer Mike Cameron, is batting .267 (121-for-454) between Lakeland, Erie and Toledo, with 24 doubles, nine triples, eight homers, 59 RBIs, a .759 OPS and 23 stolen bases.
Cameron is currently ranked as the Tigers' No. 8 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
The Tigers wanted to add Rogers to their AFL contingent last fall after acquiring him from the Astros on Aug. 31, 2017, as part of the Verlander package, but the deal came together too late. He'll take part this year coming off a strong season at Double-A Erie in which he took charge of a talented pitching staff, threw out Eastern League basestealers in abundance and overcame a slow start at the plate.
Rogers, ranked as the Tigers No. 11 prospect, is batting .221 (75-for-340) for the SeaWolves with 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and a .726 OPS -- including an .815 OPS since the All-Star break.
The AFL should be a good test for Schreiber, who has risen from a 15th-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft to the closer's role at Erie this season. The 24-year-old native of Wyandotte, Mich., and University of Northwestern Ohio product has converted 17 saves in 22 chances, while going 3-7 with 2.57 ERA. He has 59 strikeouts over 56 innings.
Baez is the one member of the group who has been in the Majors already, having made a long-relief appearance for the Tigers in a June doubleheader against the Yankees. The 24-year-old right-hander has spent the rest of the season with the SeaWolves, going 1-9 with a 5.64 ERA in 15 starts and 18 relief appearances.
Like Schreiber, Woodrow has made a steady climb in the Tigers' system since being selected in the 2016 Draft. The former 12th-round pick out of Creighton has spent nearly the entire season at Erie, batting .313 (102-for-326) with three homers, 36 RBIs, a .760 OPS and 18 stolen bases.
Jimenez will get a push after spending the entire season in the Lakeland bullpen. The 23-year-old righty is 3-4 with a 3.49 ERA and 14 saves, while striking out 50 batters over 49 innings.
Pinero has spent the full season at Lakeland, rotating at the corner-infield spots as well as shortstop and left field. The University of Virginia product and ninth-round Draft pick in 2016 is batting .259 (105-for-405) with 25 doubles, nine homers, 58 RBIs and a .740 OPS.