Detroit Tigers

Track Record: The Tigers persistently tracked Santana’s progress as an amateur in the Dominican Republic and signed him to a team-record $2.95 million bonus when the 2021 international signing period opened. He rewarded the club’s renewed focus on the international market by performing well in his Dominican Summer League debut, hitting .269/.421/.520 in 54 games.
Scouting Report: Santana is already showing signs of developing into a future impact bat. He has an advanced approach at the plate, mature pitch recognition and a fluid swing that leads to loads of hard contact. He posted exit velocities up to 106 mph in the DSL, an impressive number for an 18-year-old, and his swing is geared toward lifting the ball in the air. He’ll need to continue to grow into his frame to tap into more power, but the foundation is there. He projects as a future average infielder defensively with advanced footwork and instincts beyond his years. Santana’s arm is average, but his quickness and natural feel allow him to navigate the infield with ease.
The Future: Santana’s development path is going to take a long time and the Tigers don’t plan to expedite it, but he shows exciting hitting qualities.

Track Record: Considered by many to be one Detroit’s top signings during the 2019 international signing period. Sequera added strength over the shutdown and re-emerged a power hitting shortstop likely to move off of the position. He spent the summer in the Florida Complex League with the Tigers East squad, winning the circuit’s home run title and ranking No. 8 on the FCL Top 10 Prospects list.
Scouting Report: A physical player with a broad shouldered power hitter’s build. The added muscle and physicality manifested itself in big power numbers for Sequera, as he showed a knack for the barrel, deploying a simple, fluid righthanded swing with natural loft, and few moving parts outside a pronounced leg kick. The simplicity of Sequera’s load allows him to adjust to pitch height and sit back on breaking balls. His bat-to-ball skills are above-average, and enough to overcome aggressive, and at times immature swing decisions. As this area of Sequera’s game adds refinement his strikeout numbers should decrease. In the field Sequera is limited by a lack of range. He made 39 starts at shortstop this summer, but looks likely to move off of the position long term. He projects to move to third base where his strong throwing arm should suffice. A below-average runner, Sequera’s game is predicated on hard contact and bat-to-ball skills.
The Future: With a strong debut season under his belt, Sequera should see assignment to Low-A Lakeland out of camp, where he’s likely to see time at a variety of spots in the infield. His combination of feel to hit, above-average power, and a strong throwing arm give him the look of a potential power-hitting corner infielder.

Track Record: The Tigers nabbed Keith, the 2019 Mississippi High School Player of the Year, for $500,000 in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. The pandemic delayed his pro debut to 2021, when Keith slashed .286/.396/.393 at three levels, reaching High-A West Michigan by the end of the season.
Scouting Report: Keith was a legitimate two-way prospect in high school at both shortstop and pitcher. He hasn’t pitched so far as a professional—Detroit likes his profile at third base long-term—but it’s easy to see his natural athleticism. He shows a plus arm at third base while continuing to develop feel for the position. He also flashes plus run times, although he’s likely to settle in as an average runner. Offensively, Keith showed impressive bat-to-ball skills amid a challenging assignment. He hit just two homers, but scouts still believe there’s plus raw power in his lefthanded swing. Much of Keith’s development hinges on continued maturation of his approach while also tapping into his power more consistently as his frame fills out.
The Future: Detroit’s crowded pool of infield prospects may ultimately push Keith to an outfield spot, but he has the upside of an everyday big leaguer.

Track Record: The Tigers snapped up one of the top shortstops in Latin America on Jan. 15, 2021 when they signed Cristian Santana, who got off to a terrific start in the Dominican Summer League and is one of their most exciting prospects at the lower levels. One year later, they added Osorio, one of the top Venezuelan shortstops in the 2021-22 international class.
Scouting Report: Osorio has strong hands and quick wrists to snap the barrel through the zone with whippy bat speed. He has hit well in games with mostly gap power now, but he has the bat speed and physical projection remaining to develop into a 20-plus home run threat. An above-average runner, Osorio has the athleticism, hands, footwork and plus arm to handle shortstop. If he does outgrow the position, he has the attributes and offensive profile to project anywhere else on the infield, but the upside is there for him to be a shortstop with offensive impact. The Future: Osorio should follow in Santana’s footsteps as a starting shortstop for the Tigers in the Dominican Summer League for his pro debut in 2022.

Track Record: Smith emerged as Alabama’s ace during his junior spring and the Tigers made him their third-round selection in the 2021 draft and signed him to an above-slot bonus of $1.12 million. Smith, who was initially drafted by the Padres in 2018 out of high school, steadily added muscle to his projectable frame and watched his fastball velocity tick up throughout college.
Scouting Report: Smith reportedly added 30 pounds of good weight in college and his fastball now touches 95 mph while sitting comfortably in the 92-93 mph range. He shows hitters a four-pitch mix, but scouts believe his slider is his strongest secondary offering. It’s a mid-to-upper 80s pitch with slurvy shape that Smith uses as a putaway pitch. Scouts see his work-in-progress changeup developing into a fringe-average pitch, and his low-80s curveball has shown good depth, working in tandem with his four-seam to keep hitters off balance. Smith was a reliever his first two years at Alabama before moving to the starting rotation following an improvement in command of his arsenal entering the 2021 spring.
The Future: Set to make his pro debut in 2022, Smith needs to prove to scouts those command gains can hold in the pro ranks. If he does, he’ll remain on a starter’s track.

Track Record: Olson was drafted by the Brewers in 2018 and then dealt to the Tigers at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for lefthander Daniel Norris. Prior to the deal, Olson posted a 4.30 ERA at Milwaukee’s High-A Wisconsin affiliate, the same club he pitched for in 2019 when it was previously a Low-A affiliate. Detroit promoted him to Double-A Erie shortly after the trade, where he made five starts.
Scouting Report: Olson’s four-pitch mix grabs the attention of scouts, but so does his violent delivery and inconsistent command. He attacks hitters with a mid-90s fastball and scouts believe there’s still room for a touch more velocity. However, despite above-average velocity, the pitch lacks movement, and deception at release. He mixes a trio of strong secondaries that all generated whiffs at a rate of 40% or higher in 2021. The best of that group is an above-average changeup with heavy fade and tumble, generating both ground balls and whiffs at a high rate. His pair of breaking balls show distinctive shape and sharp break. His low-80s sweeper slider sees higher usage than the curveball in large part due to its dominance against righthanded hitters. His curveball is a mid-to-high-70s downer, with two-plane break, and is used primarily versus lefthanders as an alternative to his changeup. Olson needs to demonstrate more consistent command of his arsenal to project long term in a starting role, as he walked nearly 12% of hitters with High-A Wisconsin in 2021.
The Future: There’s considerable reliever risk, but due to Olson’s fastball velocity and deep quality mix of secondaries he could become an effective multi-inning relief option down the road.

Track Record: Cabrera was a consistent three-year performer in college at Louisiana State, and the Tigers knew him well when they made him their second-round selection in 2020 thanks to general manager Al Avila’s connection to the program. Cabrera posted a .910 OPS and hit 22 homers as an amateur in the SEC, but his professional debut wasn’t particularly powerful. He hit .242/.300/.395 in 99 games with High-A West Michigan and struggled mightily after being promoted to Double-A Erie, hitting .174 in 17 games.
Scouting Report: Cabrera lacks a true carrying tool, but he’s always impressed scouts with a fluid lefthanded swing, solid hand-eye coordination and bat speed. His approach was tested at times in 2021, especially against upper-level pitching, and he’s susceptible to effective breaking balls when his swing mechanics fall out of sync. His swing is heavily hands driven which can lead to a variety of timing issues, and professional pitchers exploited this. Defensively, Cabrera worked hard to improve his athleticism to the point where he’s a viable option in right field in addition to left field. Despite his average speed, Cabrera boasts above-average arm strength and advanced instincts which boost his overall fielding grade.
The Future: Set to turn 24 years old in September, Cabrera was considered a potential quick-mover as an amateur, but he’ll need to refine his eye to jump back on a fast track.

Track Record: The son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, Kody was the 2018 Big 12 Conference player of the year at Texas. Detroit drafted the younger Clemens in the third round of the 2018 draft and signed him to a $600,000 bonus. His development has been slow, but he reached Triple-A Toledo in 2021 and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.
Scouting Report: Clemens is touted for his raw power and aggressive infield defense. He logged the bulk of his defensive action at second base, where he showed a quick first step and above-average instincts. Clemens’ arm isn’t flashy, but his accuracy and quick release balance that out. He also spent time in right field for the first time as a professional. It took Clemens some time to rediscover his natural raw power, but he ultimately hit a career-best 18 homers with Toledo, showing improved ability to hit to all fields with a fluid line-drive stroke. It’s above-average raw power, but his flatter bat path leads to a high rate of ground balls. Further adjustments to add more loft to his barrel at contact could reap the rewards a high average exit velocity of 90.4 mph usually produces.
The Future: Clemens will need to show his bat can continue to adjust to upper-level pitching in 2022.

Track Record: Following a pedestrian high school career, mostly as an outfielder, Brieske grew three inches during his freshman year at Glendale Community College and converted to full-time pitching. He transferred to Division II Colorado State-Pueblo his junior season and struck out 116 batters across 79.2 innings. The Tigers selected Brieske in the 27th round of the 2019 draft.
Scouting Report: Brieske made the most of the time allotted by the shutdown of 2020, connecting with his junior college pitching coach and following a rigorous regiment. Assigned to High-A West Michigan out of minor league camp, evaluators saw not only improved stuff, but pitchability and feel for the game. Mixing a four-pitch arsenal led by a fastball sitting 92-95 mph with above-average spin and ride, Brieske works the top of the zone with his heater before attacking low gloveside with a tight slider in the mid 80s and low armside with a changeup in the low 80s. The changeup is an above-average offering with hard armside run and an average of over 10 mph of separation from his fastball. Early in counts he’ll show a 12-6 curveball in the mid-to-high 70s, but it’s a fringe pitch used to change hitters’ eye levels.
The Future: A combination of three average or better pitches, above-average command, and a brilliant understanding of sequencing, Brieske has quickly developed into a legitimate starting pitching prospect as he enters 2022. Brieske should return to Double-A Erie to begin the season after making eight strong starts there in 2021.

Track Record: The Tigers were sold on Mattison’s increased velocity and power pitcher’s build, selecting the Northeast Conference’s Pitcher of the Year in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of Bryant for an under-slot $400,000 bonus. Mattison is the highest draft pick in Bryant history. He did not make his professional debut in 2021.
Scouting Report: Scouts highlighted the uptick in velocity early in 2021, noting Mattison seemed more confident attacking the strike zone. His fastball sits in the 92-95 mph range and touches 97 mph with natural downhill plane, and Mattison held his velocity deep into starts. Scouts view Mattison’s changeup as his strongest secondary, and it pairs well with his curveball. Both have solid-average potential. He also added a cutter/slider hybrid into his arsenal, but threw it less frequently and scouts think he needs to gain more confidence in the offering. Mattison repeats his delivery well, throwing all his pitches from a high arm slot.
The Future: Mattison is already one of the more advanced college pitchers in the Tigers’ pipeline and will likely open the 2022 season at High-A West Michigan. Considering his age and evolving arsenal, Mattison could move quickly through Detroit’s system.

Track Record: Faedo was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2017 College World Series in his final season at Florida, and it was no surprise when the Tigers locked him in as their first-round selection in 2017 for $3.5 million. Injuries, including Tommy John surgery as well as a positive test for Covid-19, and ineffectiveness have plagued Faedo’s career to this point. He hasn’t pitched since 2019, when he struck out 134 hitters with Double-A Erie. The figure ranked third among all Tigers prospects that season, behind only Tarik Skubal and Matt Manning.
Scouting Report: Since his days at Florida, Faedo’s slider has always been his signature pitch. There was concern early in his professional career about a drop in his fastball velocity, but the pitch slowly worked back to its previous form. With those two pitches Faedo also blends a changeup that was below-average at the close of the 2019 season. There were also questions about how much his unorthodox delivery would hinder the progression of his command and control.
The Future: Faedo’s rehab work will dictate his future with the Tigers, and there’s a growing likelihood he transitions to a relief role once he returns.

Track Record: The Tigers signed Foley, who was college teammates at Sacred Heart with Tigers infielder Zack Short, as a nondrafted free agent. Scouts were impressed by a velocity spike that led to regular triple-digit readings. Foley broke out with Class-A West Michigan in 2017, but Tommy John surgery cost him his 2018 season. The pandemic wiped out 2020, but Foley made his big league debut in June 2021.
Scouting Report: Foley’s signature is unquestionably his plus fastball, which has regained its upper-90s velocity since surgery. Despite premium velocity, hitters timed Foley’s four-seam fastball fairly well in the minors, and he worked with the Tigers to add a two-seamer to his repertoire. The pitch features heavy arm-side run and sink, but he’s still learning to command the pitch’s heavy movement. The two fastball variations played off of each other, allowing his four-seam to play up as a swing-and-miss pitch when elevated. He has gained more confidence in his tight mid-80s slider, which missed bats at a high rate in 2021. He works primarily with a sinker-slider mix, looking to drive weak ground ball contact at a high rate. He’ll mix in a split-changeup that misses bats even as he’s gaining feel for the pitch.
The Future: For Foley, the biggest question will be his health. If he’s able to maintain longevity, the Tigers should have a dependable relief option for years to come.

Track Record: The younger brother of major leaguer Wilmer Flores, the righthander signed as a nondrafted free agent in 2020 out of Arizona Western JC. He began his professional career with four appearances in the Florida Complex League before seeing promotion to Low-A Lakeland in mid-July.
Scouting Report: Flores deploys a four-pitch arsenal that leans heavily on a fastball and curveball combination. The fastball is a higher spin four-seam with natural cut sitting 93-95 mph touching 98 mph at peak. He commands the fastball fairly well showing a healthy preference to his armside. His low-80s curveball features 11-5 movement with heavy two-plane break and moderate depth. His command of the pitch comes and goes, but at it’s best he can land it on the bottom of the zone to steal strikes, or bury it glove side for chases and whiffs. He throws a high-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup as well, but each pitch was hit hard in 2021 and grades out as below-average. Evaluators like the power of Flores fastball and curveball combination and can envision the righthander settling into a middle relief role.
The Future: The Detroit scouting department did a good job identifying Flores’ upside and signed him as an NDFA. He rewarded the organization with a strong performance across a pair of levels. With high octane stuff and the ability to miss bats and throw strikes, Flores has the look of a feature middle relief arm used in single inning appearances.

Track Record: De la Cruz’s $1.8 million bonus was the largest of any Tigers 2018 international signing. He dazzled in his Dominican Summer League debut the next summer, slashing .307/.375/.556 with 11 home runs. He impressed again in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2021, earning a promotion to Low-A Lakeland, where he hit .127 in 39 games.
Scouting Report: De la Cruz has drawn praise for his all-out style of play and intriguing mix of tools. He has the ability to produce hard contact thanks to his plus bat speed, but it comes with plenty of swing-and-miss. De la Cruz’s strikeout rates hovered around 30% in rookie ball and ballooned to 46.8% in his first taste of Low-A. Still, De la Cruz was just 19 years old and some scouts are optimistic he’ll cut that number down with more reps. Defensively, De la Cruz boasts plus speed and a plus arm, which profiles well across the outfield. Some scouts seem to believe right field could be the best fit for him as he fills out.
The Future: After getting his feet wet with Lakeland in 2021, De la Cruz’s chances of advancing depend strongly on cutting his strikeout rate.

Track Record: The Tigers signed Reyes to a $1.45 million bonus in 2018, coveting his natural strength and projectable frame. He debuted the following year in the Dominican Summer League and hit .331/.379/.508. The missed year of development in 2020 didn’t help the 20-year-old, who struggled in 2021, hitting a combined .184/.272/.356 during his time in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.
Scouting Report: There’s plenty to dream on with Reyes. In addition to his pure strength, Reyes has a knack for hard contact and flashes the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He’s still a work in progress at the plate with several elements of his swing and approach needing refinement. Reyes’ overly aggressive approach and downward bat path are both potential areas of improvement, and he chased pitches outside the zone at an alarming rate of 47.4%. His naturally long swing led to a high rate of in-zone swing and miss and his habit of chopping downward led to a near 50% ground ball rate. He struggled mightily versus breaking balls, but did show the ability to handle velocity. Defensively, evaluators are optimistic he can handle shortstop because of his arm strength and smooth footwork, but note he has the athleticism to handle third base if his size pushes him in that direction.
The Future: Reyes has upside, but he’ll have to make significant adjustments to his swing and approach. He’s expected to move through the system slowly.

Track Record: Alfonzo has quietly drawn praise for his developmental progress since signing with Detroit out of Venezuela in 2016, especially after breaking out in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 by hitting .391/.485/.500 in 33 games. He split his time between Low-A Lakeland and High-A West Michigan in 2021, hitting .287 with eight homers between the two levels.
Scouting Report: Alfonzo moves more quickly than his solid frame might suggest and can add more defensive polish if he continues to keep his weight in check. In 59 games behind the plate, Alfonzo allowed just one passed ball. At the plate, he has solid bat-to-ball skills and a compact swing geared to contact. He doesn’t walk much, and needs to shore up his approach against more advanced pitching, especially against breaking stuff. Coaches who have worked with Alfonzo point out his natural leadership ability.
The Future: After posting respectable production at High-A West Michigan in 2021, Alfonzo is expected to return to the level to start 2022.

Track Record: Gil doesn’t stand out for his physicality or raw tools, but he became a favorite among some international scouts because of his high baseball IQ and ability to perform in games. The Tigers made him one of the top international signings of their 2021-22 class when the signing period opened on Jan. 15, 2022.
Scouting Report: Gil separates himself more in games than he does in a workout. He has a relatively smaller, compact frame with baseball instincts beyond his years that are evident in all facets of the game. He puts together quality at-bats with a quick, easy swing that produces a high contact rate in games with the ability to spread line drives around the field. Gil has occasional sneaky juice for his size, but he doesn’t project to big a big power threat. In the field, Gil is a savvy player with a good internal clock at shortstop. While some scouts who saw Gil early thought he might be a second baseman because of his arm, that tool has improved to the point to give him a better chance to stick at shortstop.
The Future: With the Tigers going to two Dominican Summer League teams in 2022, Gil and Osorio should each get plenty of reps at shortstop in their first official pro games.

Track Record: Meadows is the younger brother of current Rays outfielder Austin Meadows. Parker, who was drafted in the second round in 2018, has yet to put it all together offensively and spent nearly all of 2021 with High-A West Michigan, hitting .208/.290/.330 over 94 games.
Scouting Report: The Tigers may be waiting for the bat to come around, but there’s no denying the defensive potential. Few outfielders have the ability to move as well as Meadows. He produces some of the fastest sprint speeds in the system, and his advanced routes and instincts allow him to handle center field without issue. He also has a plus arm. Offensively, Meadows has struggled to shorten his naturally long swing. While Meadows has plenty of raw power, he has yet to tap into it on a regular basis.
The Future: Meadows is one of the best defensive outfielders in the system, but he needs to start hitting consistently.

Track Record: The Tigers thought highly enough of Bastidas to sign him to a $1.175 million bonus, the second-largest deal in their 2021 international signing class. He appeared in 54 games with Detroit’s Dominican Summer League team, slashing .188/.324/.276.
Scouting Report: Bastidas is still in the early stages of his development, but it’s clear his bat is going to be the focal point as his body fills out. He produces a fluid swing from both sides of the plate and showed good hand-eye coordination as an amateur. He doesn’t impact the ball with much authority now, but there’s plenty of physical projection left on his long and lanky frame, and scouts project potential for future average power. As an amateur, Bastidas trained with Cesar and Maicer Izturis and received praise for his polished defensive profile. Bastidas’ slick glove remains intact. He manages the infield with light footwork, an above-average arm, good throwing accuracy and instincts well beyond his years.
The Future: Detroit is working to bolster its international presence and Bastidas, along with Cristian Santana, represents a strong step forward. Now, Tigers player development must work with Bastidas on his offensive development while his body matures.

Track Record: Packard was the American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina, and the Tigers made him their fifth-round pick the next year in 2019. His offensive prowess showed up in his pro debut, when he posted a 162 wRC+ with Low-A West Michigan and advanced to High-A. He returned to High-A in 2021, but hit just .222/.310/.369.
Scouting Report: Packard has been viewed as a bat-first prospect since his college days. He possesses an advanced, fluid lefthanded stroke and has enough strength in his frame to produce easy raw power. Packard has a polished eye and trimmed his strikeout rate by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2019. Packard’s limited athleticism and lack of speed make him best suited to left field. If that’s the case, he’ll need to do damage at the plate with consistency. While Packard has earned praise regarding his work ethic, his limited athleticism and lack of speed make his profile best suited for left field. His offense will continue to be his selling tool as long as it stands up against advanced pitching.
The Future: The Tigers still believe in Packard’s bat and are likely to test him in 2022 against upper-level pitching.