Tyler Collins

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2015
  Collins raked in his first full season in the high Class A Florida State League in 2012, but his strikeout rate soared upon reaching Double-A Erie. His performance rebounded in 2014, as he spent the first two weeks in Detroit for his big league debut before spending the rest of the minor league season at Triple-A Toledo. Strong and stocky, Collins can put a charge into the ball with average power, making him a potential 20-homer threat. Praised for his pure hitting ability earlier in his career, he got big with his swing and had trouble recognizing pitches last year when he got to Double-A. There's still some swing-and-miss to his game, but he has solid patience and in 2014 he did a better job of understanding his swing and anticipating how pitchers were attacking him, which helped boost his batting average and on-base percentage. Collins is a fringy runner with an average arm who split time between left and right field, even getting spot time in center, though he's much better suited for the corners. Collins gets the fourth-outfielder label thrown on him, though he could have value as a platoon outfielder. With Torii Hunter hitting the free agent market, the Tigers have an opening, though the club is much more likely to use Collins as a backup in 2015.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #20 prospect in 2014
  Collins was one of the biggest disappointments for the Tigers in 2013, especially after he hit so well in spring training and nearly made the big league team. Instead, the Tigers assigned him to Double-A Erie and he struggled, seemingly trying to hit his way to Detroit with every swing. Normally lauded for his mature hitting approach, Collins' swing got longer and more uphill as he tried swinging for the fences, flying open early and going into pull mode. He ended up hitting 21 home runs after just seven in 2012, but his strikeout rate nearly doubled from the previous season, going from 12 percent to 23 percent, as his overall production slipped. Collins still takes his walks, but he needs to find a better blend of hitting for average and power that's more conducive to the former, because his power is average at best and won't carry him. He has a strong, stocky frame with below-average speed and an average arm that could play in either corner-outfield spot. Collins' stock is down from a year ago, but he's an intriguing candidate for a bounce back year at Triple-A Toledo.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2013
  After batting .404 as a Baylor freshman in 2010, Collins became academically ineligible, so he transferred to Howard (Texas) JC. He became the 2011 national junior college player of the year after topping NJCAA Division I in hits (105), doubles (34) and home runs (19) while ranking second in batting (.488) and RBIs (82). He has continued to hit in pro ball, jumping to high Class A for his first full pro season and ranking among the Florida State League leaders in several categories. Collins has a thick, muscular build and a compact stroke. He has a patient, polished approach at the plate. He knows how to work the count well and uses the entire field, making consistent hard contact. While his power is geared more toward doubles than homers, he has strength in his swing with solid average bat speed. Collins has average foot speed and good instincts on the bases, as evidenced by his 20 steals in 23 attempts in 2012. He's an average defender with solid arm strength on the outfield corners. He's a hard-nosed player. Collins may not have profile power for a corner outfielder, which could make him more of a fourth outfielder than a regular. His pure hitting ability, on-base skills, gap power and grinder mentality could make him a poor man's Jason Kubel. Collins will begin 2013 in Double-A.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #13 prospect in 2012
  Collins hit .404 in 89 at-bats as a Baylor freshman in 2010 before getting declared academically ineligible. He continued to hit after transferring to Howard (Texas) JC, winning national junior college player of the year honors and leading NJCAA Division I in hits (105), doubles (34) and homers (19) while ranking second in batting (.488) and RBIs (82). The Tigers drafted Collins in the sixth round last June, but he made a pit stop in the Texas Collegiate League--where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect--before signing for $210,000. He posted a .902 OPS in his pro debut, then put up similar numbers in the Australian Baseball League during the winter. Collins has some length to his swing, but he finds a way to get the barrel to the ball routinely. He has a quick bat and uses an all-fields approach. Strong and stocky, Collins has average power but not the prototypical pop for a left fielder. His above-average speed allows him to play center field in a pinch, though he still needs to improve his reads and routes. His arm is below average. Some scouts wonder whether Collins is a tweener, but he may end up having enough bat to be an everyday player. He could hit his way to high Class A in his first full pro season.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: After batting .404 as a Baylor freshman in 2010, Collins became academically ineligible, so he transferred to Howard (Texas) JC. He became the 2011 national junior college player of the year after topping NJCAA Division I in hits (105), doubles (34) and home runs (19) while ranking second in batting (.488) and RBIs (82). He has continued to hit in pro ball, jumping to high Class A for his first full pro season and ranking among the Florida State League leaders in several categories. Scouting Report: Collins has a thick, muscular build and a compact stroke. He has a patient, polished approach at the plate. He knows how to work the count well and uses the entire field, making consistent hard contact. While his power is geared more toward doubles than homers, he has strength in his swing with solid average bat speed. Collins has average foot speed and good instincts on the bases, as evidenced by his 20 steals in 23 attempts in 2012. He's an average defender with solid arm strength on the outfield corners. He's a hard-nosed player. The Future: Collins may not have profile power for a corner outfielder, which could make him more of a fourth outfielder than a regular. His pure hitting ability, on-base skills, gap power and grinder mentality could make him a poor man's Jason Kubel. Collins will begin 2013 in Double-A.