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The Detroit Tigers experienced a major down year by their standards in 2015, finishing last in the AL Central with a 74-87 record. But a pair of free agent signings in Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmermann could put them back into playoff contention. The division is really loaded with talent, but the Tigers will begin 2016 with a lineup featuring Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Upton, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, and many other potent bats. Though on the pitching side they are lacking in both rotation and bullpen depth, their bats could potentially keep them in the hunt for most of 2016.
The Tigers better find a way to win now though because their window is closing fast. Not only is their Major League talent aging quickly, but they are severely lacking in minor league depth. The current state of their farm system would probably require a number of years to restock which could put them in an extended rebuild mode when they are no longer able to compete. For dynasty owners, there are a few names on this list who could have potential future value, but most are either years away or unlikely to have a major impact in the future.
If you are interested in more MLB prospects columns, head on over to our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. You can find the rest of my team prospect breakdowns, fantasy baseball prospect rankings, tiered positional rankings, keeper values articles, and more - all in one easy place.
Detroit Tigers Top 10 Dynasty Prospects
These are the top ten prospects for the Detroit Tigers in terms of fantasy production for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.
1. Michael Fulmer (SP, AA)
Stats: (in DET) 31.2 IP, 2.84 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 9.38 K/9, 1.99 BB/9, 1.14 HR/9
ETA: 2017
The prized prospect acquired in the Yoenis Cespedes deal to the Mets, Michael Fulmer has often been viewed as the most underrated pitching prospect in all of baseball. Fulmer started off his minor league career very slow, taking four years to reach Double-A, but he had a breakout season in 2015 with the Mets before he was dealt and really started to flash potential.
He has an outstanding repertoire with a phenomenal fastball that can touch the mid- to upper-90s, two breaking pitches (slider and curveball) that have the potential to be plus, and a changeup that is not great but at least will allow him to keep hitters off balance. Some scouts question whether or not he will be able to remain as a starter, but for now the plan is for him to keep pitching in the rotation which gives him a lot of fantasy potential. Fulmer will start off 2015 at Triple-A and has a serious chance to pitch with the Tigers if the backend of their rotation has any struggles.
2. Beau Burrows (SP, R)
Stats: 28.0 IP, 1.61 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 10.61 K/9, 3.54 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
ETA: 2020
Taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 2015 draft, Beau Burrows has a lot of potential to be a great pitcher. Though his repertoire is not as diverse as Fulmer’s, Burrows possesses a great fastball that he can throw as high as the upper-90s and a nice power curve. The changeup could use some improvement, but may be a nice third pitch for him. The command is an issue right now, but at only 19-years-old, Burrows has plenty of time to improve. Dynasty owners don’t need to worry just yet about stashing Burrows as he is still a long way away from seeing the majors, but the potential is there for Burrows to be a top of the rotation arm for Detroit.
3. Derek Hill (OF, A)
Stats: 235 PA, .238/.305/.314, 0 HR, 25 SB, 8.5% BB rate, 18.7% K rate
ETA: 2018
Steven Moya is the power hitting prospect in the Tigers’ system and Derek Hill is the base stealing alternative. The one thing they have in common, both have struggled to hit in the minors and may not hit in the majors. Scouts praise Hill's discipline at the dish and believe that he has enough bat handling skills to hit at least .270 in the majors. For dynasty owners, he is not yet worth considering stashing for two reasons. He still has several years left of development in the minors, and he has to prove that he can get on base enough to make use of his speed.
4. Steven Moya (OF, MLB)
Stats: (from AAA) 535 PA, .240/.283/.420, 20 HR, 5 SB, 5.0% BB rate, 30.3% K rate
ETA: 2016
There is no question that Moya has game changing power, but there is also no question that he strikes out way too much for his own good. Moya is more than capable of hitting 20 possibly even 30 home runs per season at the cost of incredibly high strikeout rates and low walk rates. For dynasty owners considering stashing him, it is important to note that in 2014 at Double-A, Moya struck out 29.3% of the time and in 2015 at Triple-A, Moya struck out 30.3% of the time. If dynasty owners are willing to take the risk on Joey Gallo, they may be willing to consider Moya especially since he plays at the weak offensive position of outfield, but be warned that Moya doesn’t have the power potential of Gallo and is less likely to start at the Major League level.
5. Kevin Ziomek (SP, A+)
Stats: 154.2 IP, 3.43 ERA, 2.38 FIP, 8.32 K/9, 1.98 BB/9, 0.17 HR/9
ETA: 2017
After an outstanding 2014 at A-ball, Kevin Ziomek followed up with a great 2015 campaign. Though his strikeout rate fell from 11.12 K/9 in 2014 to 8.32 K/9 in 2015, his walk rate plummeted going from 3.88 BB/9 in 2014 to 1.98 BB/9. Ziomek’s stats would have you believe that he has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter, but scouts don’t love his stuff and see him more as a back of the rotation type guy. He is the very definition of a low risk/low reward pitcher which doesn’t make him an attractive option for dynasty owners.
6. Spencer Turnbull (SP, A)
Stats: 116.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 3.10 FIP, 8.18 K/9, 4.01 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
ETA: 2017
Spencer Turnbull has one of the best fastballs in the Minor Leagues. It can reach the upper-90s, and it has nasty movement. The reason Turnbull has such a low ceiling is because he lacks quality secondary pitches and decent command of any of his pitches. Dynasty owners need to understand though that if he remains as a starter, he will be a back of the rotation arm at best. Most scouts believe that his future will not be as a starter however. Dynasty owners should not waste a roster spot with Turnbull at any point.
7. Christin Stewart (OF, A)
Stats: 216 PA, .286/.375/.492, 7 HR, 3 SB, 8.3% BB rate, 20.8% K rate
ETA: 2018
The Tigers took Christin Stewart with the 34th overall pick in the 2015 draft and though he is the kind of player who will likely fly through the minors because he spent so long in college, he doesn’t have much fantasy potential. He doesn’t have home run power and he is very slow on the basepaths. He can be ignored for all fantasy purposes.
8. JaCoby Jones (SS, AA)
Stats: 160 PA, .250/.331/.463, 6 HR, 10 SB, 10.6% BB rate, 32.5% K rate
ETA: 2017
JaCoby Jones flashed his potential early at A-ball with the Pirates back in 2014 when he hit 23 home runs, stole 17 bases, and hit .288, but he is starting to show some serious declines in production. Jones has been unable to lower his strikeout rates and it is an especially concerning sign that he has already been suspended twice for positive drug tests. Jones can be considered fantasy irrelevant in all leagues.
9. Austin Kubitza (SP, AA)
Stats: 133.2 IP, 5.79 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 6.46 K/9, 3.23 BB/9, 0.40 HR/9
ETA: 2017
There is very limited upside for Austin Kubitza as he is lacking in both stuff and control. Kubitza could be a decent back end of the rotation guy as he has shown great durability and the ability to go deep into games, but he doesn’t have the strikeout stuff to be a great fantasy option. He should be ignored by all dynasty owners.
10. Jairo Labourt (SP, A+)
Stats: 35.2 IP, 6.31 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 8.58 K/9, 3.79 BB/9, 0.76 HR/9
ETA: 2018
Jairo Labourt has taken a very long time to move through the minors and though he showed promise at Low-A, he has really struggled both at A-ball and High-A. He has a great fastball, but lacks command and quality secondary pitches. Dynasty owners are not advised to consider adding him.
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