2017 Detroit Tigers Top 10 Prospects Insider

See Also: Tigers Top 10 Prospects

Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card

Get it all: Subscribe to Baseball America

Go 30 deep: Order the 2017 Prospect Handbook!

SEASON IN A SENTENCE: Detroit bounced back from a brutal 2015 season, improving by 12 games, but that wasn’t enough to get back to the playoffs. Despite big years from usual suspects Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, the Tigers fell just short of the American League wild card, losing their last two games in Atlanta to finish out of the money.

HIGH POINT: Detroit was just peeking over .500 late in June when they went to Tampa and railed 7-2 entering the ninth inning. The Tigers rallied with seven hits and eight runs to win 10-7, capping a 17-11 month that got them back in contention.

LOW POINT: Any hopes of a division title were dashed fairly early, as Detroit lost seven straight and 11 of 12 in early May. The streak included a 10-5 loss to the Rangers as offseason acquisition Mike Pelfrey couldn’t hold a 5-2 lead, and Texas slammed five homers.

NOTABLE ROOKIES: Pelfrey, oft-injured free-agent signee Jordan Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez struggled in rotation, opening the door for Michael Fulmer, the club’s top prospect, to make 26 starts. He thrived (11-7, 3.06) as the only Detroit rookie to exhaust his rookie eligibility.

KEY TRANSACTIONS: Free-agent signee Justin Upton struggled in the first half but bitt 22 homers after the break, including 13 after Sept. 1 to finish second on the team in homers (31) and RBIs (87). Zimmermann, the other big offseason pickup, got off to a 5-0, 0.55 start but struggled the rest of the way, missing time and losing effectiveness due to neck and lat muscle injuries.

DOWN ON THE FARM: Low Class A West Michigan was the lone Tigers club to reach the playoffs in a solid developmental year for the organization. Outfielder Christin Stewart hit 30 homers to rank fifth in the minors while ranking sixth in walks (86).

OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $199,500,000 (4th)

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average	Will Maddox
Best Power Hitter	Steven Moya
Best Strike-Zone Discipline	Christin Stewart
Fastest Baserunner	Derek Hill
Best Athlete	Derek Hill
Best Fastball	Matt Manning
Best Curveball	Drew Smith
Best Slider	Joe Jimenez
Best Changeup	Tyler Alexander
Best Control	Tyler Alexander
Best Defensive Catcher	Arvicent Perez
Best Defensive Infielder	Dixon Machado
Best Infield Arm	Dixon Machado
Best Defensive Outfielder	Derek Hill
Best Outfield Arm	Steven Moya

PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP
Catcher	James McCann
First Base	Miguel Cabrera
Second Base	A.J. Simcox
Third Base	Nick Castellanos
Shortstop	Jose Iglesias
Left Field	Justin Upton
Center Field	Derek Hill
Right Field	J.D. Martinez
Designated Hitter	Christin Stewart
No. 1 Starter	Michael Fulmer
No. 2 Starter	Matt Manning
No. 3 Starter	Jordan Zimmermann
No. 4 Starter	Daniel Norris
No. 5 Starter	Matt Boyd
Closer	Joe Jimenez

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2016 Org
2007	Cameron Maybin, of	Tigers
2008	Rick Porcello, rhp	Red Sox
2009	Rick Porcello, rhp	Red Sox
2010	Jacob Turner, rhp	White Sox
2011	Jacob Turner, rhp	White Sox
2012	Jacob Turner, rhp	White Sox
2013	Nick Castellanos, 3b	Tigers
2014	Nick Castellanos, 3b	Tigers
2015	Steven Moya, of	Tigers
2016	Michael Fulmer, rhp	Tigers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2016 Org
2007	Rick Porcello, rhp	Red Sox
2008	Ryan Perry, rhp	Did not play
2009	Jacob Turner, rhp	White Sox
2010	Nick Castellanos, 3b (1st round supp.)	Tigers
2011	James McCann, c (2nd round)	Tigers
2012	Jake Thompson, rhp (2nd round)	Phillies
2013	Jonathon Crawford, rhp	Reds
2014	Derek Hill, of	Tigers
2015	Beau Burrows, rhp	Tigers
2016	Matt Manning, rhp	Tigers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Jacob Turner, 2009	$4,700,000
Rick Porcello, 2007	$3,580,000
Andrew Miller, 2006	$3,550,000
Matt Manning, 2016	$3,505,800
Eric Munson, 1999	$3,500,000