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Just like last year, the prospect staff here at Fake Teams will be taking an in-depth look at each major league organization, including our top 10 fantasy prospects, an overview of the organization's minor league system as a whole and potential opportunities for playing time in 2015. Our goal is to provide you with more information as you prepare for minor league drafts for dynasty and keeper leagues, as well as look at players that could potentially be worth watching during the spring, as they could be in line to potentially help your fantasy team. We will be reviewing two teams per week until we are through all 30 teams, and you can see the schedule of when your favorite team will be reviewed below. if we have already reviewed the team, a link to the post, along with the team's top prospect is noted.
System Schedule
AL East |
AL Central |
AL West |
NL East |
NL Central |
NL West |
Baltimore |
Chicago |
Houston |
Atlanta |
Chicago |
Arizona |
Boston |
Cleveland |
Los Angeles |
Miami |
Cincinnati |
Colorado |
Detroit |
Oakland |
New York |
Milwaukee |
Los Angeles |
|
Tampa Bay |
Kansas City |
Seattle |
Philadelphia |
Pittsburgh |
San Diego |
Toronto |
Minnesota |
Texas |
Washington |
St. Louis |
San Francisco |
by Jason Hunt
2014 Graduates
The following players have surpassed their rookie maximums of 130 AB, 50 IP, or 45 days of service time.
Nick Castellanos (AB), Eugenio Suarez (AB), Bryan Holaday (AB), Blaine Hardy (ST), Ian Krol (ST)
It's not really all that surprising that a team that has won their division each of the last four seasons doesn't have a whole lot of open spaces in their roster. The only position that really stands out at this point is center field, where they acquired Anthony Gose from the Blue Jays to play excellent defense and hit at the bottom of the order. If he can't hit at all, look for the Tigers to take what remains in their farm system and get an upgrade.
DH Victor Martinez needed surgery earlier in the month, but is currently expected to be ready for Opening Day at this point. It seems more likely that the team would piece together a solution at DH if Martinez isn't ready as expected, with potentially Steven Moya or Tyler Collins getting first crack at additional playing time.
The back end of the rotation is set with Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon expected to hold down the last two spots, although an injury or ineffectiveness could lead to either Kyle Lobstein or Drew VerHagen getting a shot at some spot starts.
by Jason Hunt
1. Derek Hill (OF) |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.208 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 11 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
197 | 0.296 | 0.295 | 9.14% | 22.84% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
18 | R | R | Rk-A- | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2018 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2018 |
The strength of Hill's profile for fantasy relies on his speed, which is considered above-average to potentially elite. His profile points to more of a leadoff hitter, with the potential for a good batting average but not a ton of home run power. He looks a lot like one of those prospects where he will provide more real life value than fantasy value, as his defense is expected to be good enough to stay in center field long term. That said, he is still no slouch for fantasy, as he should provide solid but not spectacular production overall. He seems likely to head to full season ball in 2015, and we could see him in the majors by 2018 if it all goes well.
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2. Steven Moya (OF) |
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.277 | 83 | 35 | 105 | 16 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
557 | 0.307 | 0.553 | 4.13% | 29.26% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
22 | L | R | AA-MLB | |
Roster Status: On 40 Man Roster (2 Options Left) | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2016 |
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3. Buck Farmer (RHP) |
Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
W | SV | ERA | WHIP | K |
12 | 0 | 3.68 | 1.22 | 140 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
IP | HR/9 | GO/AO | BB% | K% |
132.1 | 0.68 | 1.20 | 6.72% | 25.41% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
23 | L | R | A,A+,AA,AAA,MLB | |
Roster Status: On 40-Man Roster (2 Options Left) | ||||
ETA to Majors: Late 2015 |
Farmer features a three-pitch repertoire consisting of an above-average fastball, a solid slider and solid changeup. None of the three pitches is expected to be a truly above-average strikeout offering, but he does induce a lot of weak contact and gets a ton of groundballs. The best case scenario for Farmer is that he ends up as a back-end of the rotation starter, providing decent ratios with some strikeouts. Most likely though, that translates into an AL-only or a deep mixed league pitcher except for streaming opportunities. He'll likely return to AAA to start 2015, and could be called upon should the team need a spot starter.
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4. Kevin Ziomek (LHP) |
Photo Credit: Jim Brown - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
W | SV | ERA | WHIP | K |
10 | 0 | 2.27 | 1.154 | 152 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
IP | HR/9 | GO/AO | BB% | K% |
123 | 0.40 | 1.02 | 10.39% | 29.80% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
22 | R | L | A | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2016 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2017 |
Ziomek's repertoire consists of a fastball, slider and changeup, although none of them profile as a true strikeout offering. All three pitches have the potential to be at least average or better offerings, which should help keep him as a starting pitcher long-term. He gets a lot of deception from his delivery, which is a bit funky and looks a bit choppy on video. It definitely helps him out, and as long as it doesn't affect his command adversely, that should continue.
Ziomek has the potential to be a back-end starting pitcher, providing decent ratios and some strikeouts to fantasy owners. He ends up ahead of some other pitching prospects on this list which may have slightly higher ceilings on the strength that his floor is fairly high and he will likely end up in a rotation either way. He may still be another two to three years from the majors, and at this point would likely be more of a wait-and-see prospect except in deeper formats.
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5. Austin Kubitza (RHP) |
Photo Credit: Jeremy Brevard - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
W | SV | ERA | WHIP | K |
10 | 0 | 2.34 | 1.08 | 140 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
IP | HR/9 | GO/AO | BB% | K% |
131 | 0.30 | 3.72 | 7.98% | 25.97% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
22 | R | R | A | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2016 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2017 |
Kubitza features two pitches which are potentially above-average in a fastball and an excellent slider. The slider caused concerns in his draft year, as he relied very heavily on the pitch while at Rice University, and saw a related drop in velocity on his fastball as a result. The reports on his third pitch, a changeup, are generally not very positive, but with that said it sounds like it did improve this year, and gives some hope that he can turn into a mid-rotation starter if it all clicks. If that pitch does not develop, he could still provide value to the Tigers in the bullpen, but would probably not help fantasy owners a lot there.
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6. Tyler Collins (OF) |
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.262 | 66 | 19 | 66 | 12 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
551 | 0.332 | 0.421 | 9.07% | 21.78% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
24 | L | L | AAA-MLB | |
Roster Status: On 40 Man Roster (2 Options Left) | ||||
ETA to Majors: Late 2015 |
The question with Collins at this point is which version of his performance at the plate will carry forward as he reaches the majors. The speed is not really expected to translate into double-digit stolen base totals on a regular basis, so we can cross that off the potential stat line other than a few here and there. His approach from his first two seasons seemed to work better overall, but regardless of which grouping ends up happening in 2015, he's likely an AL-only play for both redraft and dynasty formats. Best case is that if he gets full-time at bats, he hits in the .260-.270 range with 10-15 home runs, a little of both but definitely not above-average in either. He's likely to get another shot at a roster spot in 2015, but with a crowded outfield in the majors and Collins not really able to play center field, he'll likely return to Toledo to start the year.
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7. James McCann (C) |
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.294 | 51 | 7 | 54 | 10 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
472 | 0.339 | 0.424 | 5.30% | 19.49% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
24 | R | R | AAA-MLB | |
Roster Status: On 40 Man Roster (3 Options Left) | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2015 |
McCann is considered a solid defender behind the plate and is ready for a shot at consistent playing time in the majors. His value to fantasy owners may only be in AL-only or deep two-catcher leagues, as he is anticipated to provide a solid batting average with minimal power production to go with it. He's expected to be the backup in Detroit this year to Alex Avila, although if he hits better than Avila he could take over full-time. With a full season of plate appearances I can see him hitting in the .270-.275 range with 7-10 home runs, which has value at the catcher position, but is likely waiver wire material in shallow formats.
8. Javier Betancourt (2B) |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.269 | 67 | 6 | 54 | 9 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
612 | 0.307 | 0.344 | 4.25% | 13.24% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
19 | R | R | A | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2015 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2017 |
Betancourt works with a solid hit tool, and has shown a solid ability to make contact and specifically avoid strikeouts. He's not expected to provide a ton of power down the line in part because of his size (reported at 6'0, 180 lbs but viewed as likely smaller than that), but could still provide more than a token few home runs each year. His raw speed isn't expected to provide high stolen base totals, but could get a decent amount each year. The one thing that seems to point to him potentially getting the most out of his raw tools is his makeup, which is widely viewed as excellent. He has baseball in his bloodlines, as former major leaguer Edgardo Alfonzo is his uncle.
Betancourt played second base primarily to allow the departed Willy Adames to play shortstop, and it sounds like this will be his long-term fit on the field. He has the potential to be a decent option at the position, providing production of some sort in all five categories but none are likely to be above-average totals, and would likely slot in as an MI option in leagues with 16+ teams once he reaches the majors. He'll likely head to High-A Lakeland for the 2015 season, and we may not see him in Detroit for another three to four seasons still.
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9. Spencer Turnbull (RHP) |
Photo Credit: John David Mercer - USA Today Sports |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
W | SV | ERA | WHIP | K |
0 | 0 | 4.31 | 1.53 | 23 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
IP | HR/9 | GO/AO | BB% | K% |
31.1 | 0.60 | 2.50 | 10.56% | 16.20% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
21 | R | R | A--Rk | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2017 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2018 |
Turnbull's best offerings are his fastball and slider, which are both considered potentially high strikeout offerings down the line. The questions about his long-term projection come from a changeup which may only be a "show-me" offering if it develops to its' potential. If it does develop, he can be a mid-rotation starter capable of providing solid strikeout production with a bit of ratio risk related to inconsistent command. He has the build to potentially be a 200 inning starter, standing 6'3" and 215 lbs, and his delivery is fairly repeatable and fluid. If he doesn't make it as a starter, he may have value as a reliever, but that value for us would be contingent upon his role in the pen.
10. Steven Fuentes (3B) |
2014 FANTASY STATISTICS | ||||
AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
0.295 | 30 | 3 | 19 | 6 |
2014 SECONDARY STATISTICS | ||||
PA | OBP% | SLG% | BB% | K% |
222 | 0.356 | 0.475 | 7.21% | 22.97% |
OTHER INFORMATION | ||||
AGE | Bats | Throws | 2014 Levels | |
19 | R | R | A- | |
Roster Status: Protect after 2015 Season | ||||
ETA to Majors: 2018 |
The Tigers signed him out of Venezuela in 2011, and while he has yet to play at a full-season level yet, showed signs of a potentially interesting hitter with Connecticut this past year. The potential for Fuentes is a bat-first third baseman that can provide a decent batting average to go along with decent home run totals. How much power he ends up developing will determine whether he ends up as a mixed league or an AL-only option down the line, but the tools are there that he could end up as a 15+ home run hitter as he continues to develop. In a year's time, this will either look much too low based on a strong performance at West Michigan, or will look silly for even thinking it could happen in the first place.
Other Interesting Prospects
by Jason Hunt
Kyle Lobstein - There's something to be said about a pitcher that is generally average across the board and should provide innings for his team. With that, he's not expected to provide a ton of strikeouts, and generally is expected to be a 5th starter type long-term. There's value to that in really deep formats, but not much otherwise.
Greyson Grenier - Grenier profiles as a defense-first catcher, which should be a nice player for the Tigers to have, but unless his power develops beyond what is reasonably expected right now, he'd likely be outside our top 30 at the position when he reaches the majors.
Drew VerHagen - VerHagen reached the majors in 2014, and looks like he could get another opportunity to pitch there at some point in 2015. However, he doesn't appear likely to provide a particularly high amount of strikeouts, and while a groundball specialist who generates a ton of weak contact can have value to the Tigers, it limits his value to fantasy owners if he doesn't approach at least 5.5-6.0 strikeouts per 9 innings.
More on the Tigers and the Minors
About the Authors
Jason Hunt is a contributing writer for Fake Teams, specializing in the minor leagues and prospects.
Follow him on Twitter @jasonsbaseball
Brian Creagh is a contributing writer for Fake Teams, specializing in fantasy baseball and the minor leagues.
Follow him on Twitter @BrianCreagh