The Detroit Tigers took a huge jump in 2024 making a late playoff push and reaching a crescendo in the A.J. Hinch era. Expectations have never been higher in Motown.
The farm system saw a few exciting promotions toward the end of last season that should be expected to contribute impact production in 2025. But the real prizes for the Tigers are at least a year away.
DEVELOPMENTS
Under the watchful eye of scouting director Mark Conner and general manager Scott Harris the Detroit Tigers have gone for pure upside in the last few drafts. Those picks appear to be paying off early.
Outfielder Max Clark got off to a bumpy start as a teenager in 2023 but saw his game flourish in full-season ball last year. Distinguished for his work ethic and grit, Clark reached High-A last season as a teenager and slashed .279/.372/.421 across two levels. He added nine homers and 29 stolen bases.
Clark is a quintessential five-tool player with the chance to eventually reach Grady Sizemore-esque numbers as a pro. He’ll play the 2025 season at age 20 and should flirt with a 20/20 campaign if his strength gains continue.
Picked in the same draft as Clark, 2B Kevin McGonigle has not only met expectations, he’s blown the doors off Class-A and High-A thus far. He slashed .309/.401/.452 as a teenager last season with five homers and 22 stolen bases. More impressive, McGonigle ran an 8.5 percent strikeout rate. There are scouts in the industry who believe he is the single-best pure hitter in the minor leagues.
He’ll certainly be tested to greater lengths in Double-A at some point this season, but he and Clark have a chance to head future lineups for the Tigers as a one-two punch with serious dynamic, on-base upside.
The Tigers moved Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers at the deadline and it may end up one of the more shrewd moves of the Harris era when all is said and done. Catcher Thayron Liranzo hit .315 with a .562 slugging percentage at High-A for the Tigers after coming over in the deal.
Shortstop Trey Sweeney was promoted to the big league club in August and provided 0.4 fWAR in just 36 games. He’ll have a shot to lock down a more permanent role this spring and could turn himself into a solid full-time player with 20-20 upside as he continues to mature and develop his game.
QUESTIONS
The questions with the most impact potential include Jackson Jobe‘s timeline. Not necessarily when Jobe is ready for the big time — he made his major league debut in 2024 — but when he’s poised to pitch at or near the front of the Tigers’ rotation.
Consistency seems to be the biggest task left, and no one questions the stuff, competitive nature, and physical tools.
Will Thayron Liranzo catch? There’s optimism inside and outside the organization but plenty of questions as he begins the 2025 campaign, especially since a move to first base puts more pressure on the bat.
The club’s top draft pick in July, Bryce Rainer, is an outstanding athlete and the vast majority of scouts polled would bet he stays up the middle, but how quickly he hits and puts the mound talk behind him remains to be seen. The sky’s the limit.
Perhaps one of the more underrated Tigers prospects is Enrique Jimenez. None of the physical tools stand out as plus, but there are no glaring weaknesses, and he’s shown advanced receiving skills. It’s not a great arm, however, and the bat comes with some risk, too.
Steven Madero, a catcher who just turned 18 in September was impressive in the DSL, showing ability at the dish and behind it, posting a .283/.372/.400 slash in 40 games. Dominican Summer League performances don’t always tell us much, but scouts like Madero’s physicality and chance to hit and handle the job.
| LEVEL | TEAM | W-L | TOP PROSPECT |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Toledo | 69-80 | Jackson Jobe, RHP |
| AA | Erie | 77-58 | Hao-Yu Lee, 2B |
| A+ | West Michigan | 68-63 | Max Clark, CF |
| A | Lakeland | 80-50 | Josue Briceño, C/1B |
| R | Tigers | 34-23 | Bryce Rainer, SS |
| DSL | Tigers 1 | 30-26 | Nestor Miranda, 3B |
| DSL | Tigers 2 | 38-18 | Jesus Pinto, OF |
ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS
Considering their playoff run, the Tigers did the unthinkable at the deadline — they sold. But before the summer, they went through the same process most clubs do in terms of moving pieces around the system.
They took a flier on RHP PJ Poulin in a trade with the Colorado Rockies in March after trading 3B Andre Lipcius to the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training.
In June they sent 3B Buddy Kennedy to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash. Early in July Detroit swapped RHPs CJ Weins and Trey Wingenter with the Boston Red Sox.
At the deadline, Detroit shipped RHP Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers for Liranzo and Sweeney and added RHPs Eric Silva, Joseph Montalvo, and Chase Lee in separate deals with the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants for DH Mark Canha and LHP Andrew Chafin.
The club also moved C Carson Kelly to Texas for Liam Hicks and RHP Tyler Owens. Hicks was selected with the No. 2 pick in the Rule 5 Draft Tuesday by the Miami Marlins.
The Tigers finished off the deadline with a small deal, acquiring RHP Troy Watson from the Toronto Blue Jays.
GRADUATIONS
Colt Keith, 2B
Wenceel Pérez, OF
Justyn-Henry Malloy, OF
Brant Hurter, LHP
Keider, Montero, RHP
Montero filled in admirably through the club’s rotation injuries, while Hurter was terrific in 45.1 innings out of the pen, showing he can handle right-handed batters, too.
Keith flashed at the plate and was worth nearly two wins above replacement as a rookie. Meadows, at times, looked like a future above-average regular in his 82 games, posting a 111 wRC+.
BIG-LEAGUE RADAR
Hao-Yu Lee, 2B
Troy Melton, RHP
Max Anderson, 2B
Justice Bigbie, OF
Lael Lockhart, LHP
Eric Silva, RHP
Tyler Owens, RHP
SCOUT SAYS
“The balance in their system stands out, and I don’t think it’s an accident. Lefties, righties, arms, bats, middle, corners, catchers, all represented…”
“I think Rainer is their best bet at a star in the field, but (Max) Clark is already answering questions. I might have to change my mind on that.”
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