Young Tiger's in Spring Training...

I was watching some Spring Training ball with my dad today when Cameron Maybin walked to the plate. It was my first time seeing him in uniform this spring, I was anxious to see how he would preform. In his first at bat there were runners at first and second and it looked like the D-Rays pitcher was scared of him and walked him on five pitches. His next at bat he got played bad with a series of off speed stuff. Maybin was a the Tigers top pick in 2005 and is often compared to Ken Griffey Jr. Last season around the trade deadline when the Tigers were trying to pick up an extra bat for the stretch run there was talk of the Tigers going after superstar Alfonso Soriano. Story goes that the Nationals asked for Maybin to be part of the deal and Tigers GM said, "No way". Maybin is as close to an untouchable as you will find in baseball. Here's a quick peak at how some of the future Tigers are fairing during spring training.

(Ratings are created by Baseball America and it should be noted that only highly thought of prospects get invited to Spring Training with the big league club.)


1. Cameron Maybin (OF): Maybin is hitting .450 (9-20) this spring with a couple of homeruns. Maybin doesn't even turn 20 until April 4 and will certainly spend at least the next season in the minors. Luckily, due to the Tigers recent success there is no need to rush Maybin to the majors. There is a chance that Maybin, with a successful season in the minors could make a brief appearance in Detroit this September.

2. Andrew Miller (P): Miller threw five innings of minor league ball before pitching out of the Tiger bullpen in September. He was considered the top pitcher in last years draft but fell down to the Tiger's because he wanted so much money. Miller (right) turn 22 in May and could spend a fair amount of time in Detroit this fall. However, given Detroit's great starting pitching the Tigers do no need to rush him to the majors. They could see him as the ideal replacement for Kenny Rogers when his contract expires after this season when he will be about 57 years old. This spring Miller threw only 6 innings giving up 3 runs and striking out 7.

3. Brent Clevlen (OF): Clevlen appeared in 31 games for the Tigers last year. He has very little chance of making the team this year unless the Tigers decide to trade Craig Monroe and/or Marcus Thames. Clevlen has had an okay spring hitting .273 with a homerun.

4. Jair Jurrjens (P): Jurrjens threw five innings this spring and allowed only one run while striking out four and walking only one. Jurrjens will likely not appear in Detroit this year and only turned 21 this past winter. Odds are that Jurrjens show up in Detroit until at least 2008. However, he gives the Tigers another strong option for their future starting rotation.

5. Jordan Tata (P): Tata struggled this spring, pitching 2.2 innings and giving up 4 runs. Tata is 25 and could easily start for a couple of major league teams. It's possible that if Jurrjens and Miller progress this season the Tigers could look to trade Tata for young offensive talent.

6. Euglio de la Cruz (P): de la Cruz threw only 2 innings this spring, giving up 4 runs. I'm sure this did very little to discourage the Tigers who have no plans on moving up to the majors anytime soon. de la Cruz has hit 100mph with his fastball in the minors and has a devastating curveball. The Tigers are yet to determine if he will be a starter or work out of the bullpen.


According to Baseball America the Tigers's farm system is pretty middle of the road with the exception of Miller and Maybin who project as stars. Players like Clevlen and Tata will almost certainly never reach star status while others like Jurrjens are too young to tell.