Lakeland Flying Tigers (A+)
The Usual Suspects...
Nick Castellanos 3B-
Castellanos, widely considered the Tiger's best positional prospect, is still only 20 years old in the Advanced A ball Florida State League. Castellanos plays 3rd base currently, but has also been profiled as a future corner outfielder due to his already 6'4" 225lb frame, which has the potential to get bigger. Castellanos did well at West Michigan last season, hitting at a .312 clip with good extra base power that profiles to above-average HR power once his body develops. He has been absolutely tearing apart FSL pitching so far this year, batting third in a loaded Lakeland lineup. He is still displaying good XBH power with moderate HR power, as well as maintaining a relatively high strikeout percentage which I (and the Tigers) would like to see cut down. Regardless, he is absolutely establishing himself further as a top prospect, hitting as well as he is in an advanced league at such a young age.
14 G, 53 AB, 21 H, 5 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB, 12 K. .396/.441/.547/.988
Daniel Fields CF-
Fields is in Lakeland for his 3rd season; and while this is some cause for concern, he is still only 21 years old. Drafted out of HS in 2009, Fields was once the top positional prospect in the Tiger's system before having a very down year last season. A potential 5 tool player, Fields has struggled mostly with his strikeout percentage, resulting in poor BA and OBP. He came out of the gate hot this year, but has cooled off considerably while still posting decent numbers (Austin Jackson anyone?) He is still striking out way too much and not walking nearly enough, but so far it looks like he is at least taking a small step forward this season, batting leadoff in Lakeland. A positive is that Fields has already swiped 4 bases in 14 games, something he has struggled with the past 2 seasons despite the fact that he has plus speed.
14 G, 60 AB, 15 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 4 SB, 4 BB, 18 K. .250/.297/.383/.680
Jacob Turner RHP-
The Tiger's very top prospect, and potential future ace (although very good #2 starter is more realistic) was considered the front runner to win the Tiger's #5 starter job in Spring Training this season before he was shelved with "dead arm", which was an apt description as his velocity had dropped considerably. Turner will be making his first start of the season tonight for Lakeland, and I will do my best to keep you all updated on twitter. Turner flashes plus potential on 3 pitches (fastball, curveball, change) and has said he is working on a slider just as a complement (Verlander?) Turner's fastball velo (velocity) usually sits at around 92-93 with excellent life, with the ability to gas up to 95-96 with a 4 seamer. This spring, however, he was clocked at 89-91 with less life and even less command, which led many to believe that he was hurt. Hopefully all of that is behind him, and we see a dominant Turner return to the mound today. Should Turner return to his dominant self, I have no doubt we will see him in Detroit at some point this season.
You May Not Have Heard Of...
Tyler Collins OF-
Collins has been on the radar of several scouts and Tiger's prospect junkies (like myself) for some time now. He was drafted last year in the 6th round out of junior college after having attended Baylor University for his freshman year. He as always been able to hit the holy hell out of the baseball, displaying above-average to plus hit and power tools. He hit the ball well at Connecticut last season, and was assigned to Lakeland this year, skipping West Michigan. An aggressive assignment to be sure, but one he has handled very well thus far. Should Collins keep hitting all season at Lakeland as he has throughout his career, he will skyrocket up prospect lists and probably earn the title "blue chipper".
13 G, 51 AB, 17 H, 3 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, 2 SB, 3 BB, 10 K. .333/.404/.392/.796
Avisail Garcia RF-
Garcia is a real favorite of mine. He absolutely oozes potential and projection, and is perhaps the most "toolsy" of the Tiger's prospects. He stands 6'4', weighs 240lbs, and won't turn 21 until June. He has been mistaken for Miguel Cabrera because of his stature, but here is the scary thing: The kid has above-average speed, stealing 20 bases in 2010 and 14 last year. He also has the best arm in the entire organization, scoring probably a 65-70 on the scout scale. Also plays above average defense, and displays the ability to hit for power. As is true with most young super-prospects, Garcia struggles most with plate discipline, striking out 132 times last season while only walking 18 times. He has gotten off to a similar start this season, boasting a horrendous 12:1 K:BB ratio, but he also leads the team with 5 stolen bases and is second only to Nick Castellanos in terms of slugging percentage and OPS. This kid could absolutely explode, so watch closely.
13 G, 52 AB, 18 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 5 SB, 1 BB, 12 K. .346/.393/.404/.797
Brian Flynn LHP-
Standing 6'8" and weighing 240lbs, Flynn is the kind of imposing left hander the Tiger's have sorely lacked in recent years (he still has a ways to go, obviously). Flynn pitched very well last season at West Michigan, throwing 67 2/3 innings with a 3.46 ERA, and 23 BB/57 K (HOLY CRAP A LEFTY THAT THROWS STRIKES!!!). Flynn just turned 22, so he is about on par (maybe a little young) with the FSL, making him a real sleeper prospect to watch. He has come out of the gate blazing hot in 2012, anchoring a Lakeland staff that is light on pitching talent in comparison to its murderers row of offensive talent. I would personally like to see his strikeout totals increase a bit, but if he keeps up a 6:1 K:BB ratio then I won't complain. I will be watching Flynn closely this season, as he could potentially make a Drew Smyly-esque rise through the minors should his success continue.
3 G, 3 GS, 3-0, 19 2/3 IP, 0.92 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 12 K, 2 BB.
West Michigan Whitecaps (A)
The Usual Suspects
Danry Vasquez OF-
Vasquez has been on Tiger prospect junkies radars for a couple years now, since he was signed out of Venezuela at the age of 16. He spent his first season in the United States last season, playing for the GCL Tigers (A-) at the ripe old age of 17. He hit .272 with moderate extra base power that is expected to blossom to good gap-to-gap power as he matures and fills out his body. What was really impressive was his strike zone discipline, as he struck out only 34 times in 206 at bats, while walking 7 times. That is incredibly advanced plate discipline, especially for a 17 year old kid playing professional baseball for the first time. Vasquez has been tabbed by some as the most "projectable" Tigers prospect, but he is a solid 4-5 years away still. He has started slowly at West Michigan, but that is to be expected as he is only 18 years old in A ball, by far one of the youngest players there.
15 G, 55 AB, 12 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 4 BB, 9 K. .218/.267/..309/.576
Aaron Westlake 1B/DH-
Westlake was the Tigers 2nd selection (3rd Round) in the 2011 draft out of Vanderbilt. Widely renowned for his raw power and above-average defensive skills, Westlake was seen as someone who could be a quick riser through the minor leagues and potential trade bait, seeing as the Tigers are pretty set at 1B. Westlake performed decently last season with both the GCL and Connecticut Tigers, hitting .250 over 124 ABs. He has been rotating at 1B and DH this season with fellow power prospect Dean Green, and has done decently so far, with one exception: He has displayed zero power through the first dozen or so games. Westlake will have to pick up his power numbers, as at age 23, he is at an advanced age for A ball.
17 G, 68 AB, 18 H, 5 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R, 5 BB, 12 K. .265/.320/.338/.658
You May Not Have Heard Of
Steven Moya OF-
Moya is another Latin-America prospect signed by Dombrowski when he was a teenager, groomed abroad, then brought over here to start the minors at a young age. Moya won't turn 21 until after the season, yet stands 6'7" and weighs 230lbs, yet looks rail thin. He has the potential to develop plus power as his body fills out, seeing as he hit 10 2B and 13 HR last season at West Michigan, despite being only 19 years old. He struggled last season mightily, hitting a paltry .204 while striking out 127 times versus only 12 walks. He has started this season off scorching hot, however, hitting the cover off the ball while showing excellent plate discipline, as evidenced by his .404 BA and 6 BB vs. 8 K. Like Avisail Garcia in Lakeland, if Moya can stay hot, he could absolutely explode up prospect lists and through the minor leagues as well.
16 G, 62 AB, 25 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 8 K. .404/456/.548/1.004
Brendan Loy SS/2B-
Loy is another 2011 draftee, taken in the 5th round out of Texas. Every scouting report I have read on Loy has described him as a plus defender who just makes it look easy in the infield, but with questionable hitting skills. The basis consensus was that if Loy ends up never hitting, he could be a quality utility player in the majors in the mold of Adam Everett, but if he can hit at least average, then he will be an everyday starter at SS or 2B; his defense is just that good. Loy will turn 22 in May, so he, like Westlake, will need to advance somewhat quicker than one would like, but at 21-22 in A ball, that's not too bad. Loy has been a very pleasant surprise thus far, hitting 5th in West Michigan's lineup, rotating between SS and 2B. His defense has been very apparent as it was in Spring Training, but his offense has been a surprise. Look for Loy to move quickly if he keeps hitting, as I have said, his defense isn't an issue at all.
17 G, 68 AB, 21 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 1 BB, 11 K, 4 SB. .309/.310/.397/.707
***As I said, I will try to do these every 10-14 days or so, just to keep everyone updated on how the Tiger's prospects are doing.
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