The Tigers are signaling a potential end to their prolonged rebuild. Spearheaded by a duo of top prospects in Jackson Jobe and Colt Keith, the farm system boasts considerable talent. The organization's recent ability to develop arms, particularly optimizing Jobe's arsenal which boasts at least three plus or better pitches, has been pivotal. Colt Keith appears poised to contribute early in the season, maybe adding some much needed offensive depth to the lineup. The Tigers may have missed out on Wyatt Langford, but they did walk away with a strong draft headlined by the talented Max Clark and steady Kevin McGonigle. The Tigers' system has transformed from one of the league's weakest to an above-average system, thanks to strides made by their player development group and the emergence and development of their pitching prospects, like Sawyer Gipson-Long. Notably, the influx of talent reflects a departure from the Al Avila era, embracing a more modern and organized organizational approach to player development. The Tigers could very well follow the path of the 2023 Reds with a slew of contributors being rookies who are bound to graduate in 2024, will the Tigers take the leap to winning the very winnable AL Central?
About Our Top 30 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team has meticulously worked on every detail in this list and all future teams, sparing no effort as we combine industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible list.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked painstakingly to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
This year, we decided to accompany the scouting reports with dynasty commentary on each, as well as quick reference to the player's Top 500 fantasy prospect rank (top 1000 dynasty rank coming soon), PLIVE+ metrics and Jordan Rosenblum's peak projections. The PLIVE+ rank noted is the rank among hitters, starters or relievers.
Below you'll find the top 10 players in the system with full reports of the top 5. The full rankings and reports on all top 30 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5 level) as we publish them. If you're into fantasy baseball, this tier also gets you the dynasty show, the FYPD list, and the MiLB Daily Sheet during the regular season.
Top 10 Team Rank and First 5 Reports for Free Below
1. Jackson Jobe, RHP - 60 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 60
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 39
| Fastball | Cutter | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55 | 70 | 60 | 55 | Mod |
Report The third overall selection in the 2021 draft had a delayed start to his 2023 season due to a lumbar spine injury. However, once he began pitching, he promptly demonstrated why he was drafted so highly. Jobe is one of the most athletic pitchers in all the minor leagues. He moves fluidly and has a smooth delivery that appears almost effortless. He pitches with a fast tempo and releases the ball from a standard 3/4 arm slot. He will change up the start of his delivery with a quick step and vary the speed at which he moves to start his delivery. Jobe, with his fluid movements, also possesses one of the better pickoff moves among prospects. He has some unicorn stuff and is a real outlier in generating spin on his slider and killing lift on his changeup. Jobe has an above-average command of all of his pitches and is progressing in a way that could very well have plus command. Jobe's fastball is a great pitch that he can use early in counts to set up his secondary pitches. It is a quality offering on its own that hovers around 18 inches of induced vertical break, which allows it to be effective at the top of the strike zone. He can and will showcase his command of his fastball, which he dots to all four quadrants. His slider is what he is famous for. It spins at around 2,900 rpm and is a real plus-plus pitch with significant horizontal movement. It is definitely a sweeper rather than a hard gyro slider. It is worth noting that he has not used the slider as much as his other pitches, which is something the Tigers might want him to do to develop his other offerings. He also incorporates a cutter into his repertoire, which he can locate for strikes, and has a sharp, biting action. Jobe utilizes the cutter to try and avoid the barrel and will primarily use it against lefties to try and jam them on their hands. It complements his slider well as it shares the same release point and falls between the velocities of his fastball and slider. Jobe has reworked his changeup, turning it into a legitimate weapon. He has shown a willingness to use it against both left-handed and right-handed batters. Considering that this pitch relies heavily on feel, he has quickly demonstrated a good sense for it. It has drop and arm-side fade and is a pitch he uses to fall away from lefties and will use it to try and back-door right-handers late in counts when he is ahead. Jobe and his advanced repertoire seem as if they were built in a lab, and he can mix and match any of his four pitches to attack batters any way he would like. Jobe likely has the highest potential among pitchers in the 60 OFP tier, and there is a chance we may witness his debut in late 2024. However, it is more likely that he will make his debut in early 2025. - Rhys White
Fantasy Outlook Jobe pitched 64 innings across four levels (CPX, Single-A, High-A, and Double-A) and if you include the Arizona Fall League it was 79.2 innings. He displayed his immense talent at each of these stops producing a 33.2 K%, 3.5 BB% and holding opponents to a .239 BAA. The craziest part of all this is that he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. In the AFL he focused his efforts on his newest pitch, the cutter. With its addition to his arsenal, he now has four pitches that are all at least above average that he can throw any time in the count. Combined with his plus command, Jobe is going to be a problem for a long time. The only thing he hasn’t shown as a pro is the ability to pitch a full season’s worth of innings. The Tigers obviously want to be careful with their prized pitching prospect, but they also want to see him take the bump 30+ times a season. Once he clears this final hurdle, there may not be many pitchers that will match Jobe’s fantasy value. He’s an elite arm that can be a legitimate fantasy ace. - Greg Hoogkamp
2. Colt Keith, 3B - 55 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AAA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 2 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 11
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 55 | 45 | 55 | 40 | High |
Report Keith is a taller prospect, well-built with broad shoulders and a maxed-out frame. There’s strength throughout but especially in the lower half. He’s a bat-first prospect with a chance at plus hit and power tools. He has the rare ability to consistently drive the ball while also making contact at an above-average clip due to his innate feel for the zone and positive swing decisions. He cut 3.5% off his strikeout rate after his promotion to Triple-A while improving his walk rate from Double-A. He had his power breakout as he swatted 27 homers and 38 doubles. He’s catching the ball out front to his pull-side now and utilizing his strength and driving the ball. He posts plus exit velocities and gets the ball in the air consistently. He’s battled injuries as a pro and 2023 was really the first season in which he stayed fully healthy. He lacks a true defensive home due to a lack of lateral quickness. Despite the above-average arm, he’s likely a better fit at first base but he’s yet to play there as a professional. He spent more time at third base last year but did play more second base after his promotion to Toledo. While there are still questions about his defense we are looking at a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat with above-average contact and power numbers. - Matt Thompson
Fantasy Outlook Keith is the consensus top position player in the Tigers’ system, and for good reason. His strong contact skills and burgeoning power are a combination that few can bring to the plate. Tack on his rapidly improving plate discipline and we have the makings of an elite hitting prospect. Keith slashed .306/.380/.552 with 68 extra-base hits while maintaining a very solid 10.4 BB% and 20.9 K%. He’s still learning and improving his strike zone judgment as well as maximizing his launch angles, so there is even more to come. There are gaping holes at both second and third base for the Tigers so the opportunity is there for him. He’s a darkhorse Rookie of the Year candidate in 2024. You may still have an opportunity to acquire him before his debut and his stock rises dramatically, reach out to the Keith owner in your league before reading any further! - Greg Hoogkamp
3. Max Clark, OF - 55 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2023 MLB Draft Rank: 5
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 25
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 70 | High |
Report The Tigers took Max Clark third overall in a draft that saw a very top-heavy first five players that all project for high ceilings, but some felt Clark had the lowest ceiling of the group. Clark is very physical for his age, not overly bulky, but with thick strong legs and very athletic. He’s a double-plus runner both on defense and running the bases. Clark has a very wide stance that allows him minimal pre-pitch movement, and his hand path allows him to reach anything in the zone, a swing that produces lots of hard-line drive contact. His wide stance and lack of lower half movement likely limit his power as he prioritizes contact. There is a projection outcome where Clark’s advanced hit tool and great strength allow him above average or plus power but it’ll likely play average. Defensively, he would thrive in a corner spot but his speed will likely keep him in center field where he should be average or slightly above. - Cameron Emamian
Fantasy Outlook We’re excited about Clark, who finished 25th in our end-of-season rankings. He looks like a player that OBP league managers will love backed by a high floor. The present negatives are two things he can’t really control — a poor home park that suppresses power and his age. He’ll be 19 all of next season and should resume in Single-A, a level where he briefly struggled before the season ended. Prospects are moving faster than ever so while we don’t think he needs five years in the minors, he’s likely hanging out for at least three years. But if you’re patient, the final package is still enticing with a reasonable upside of 20 HR, 35 SB, and a .280/.360 line. - Eddy Almaguer
4. Ty Madden, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-Season Rank: 10 OFP: 45
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 245
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 45 | 55 | 40 | 55 | High |
Report The former Texas Longhorn has a prototypical innings-eater frame, with a thick and durable build. There is no discernible projection remaining on his frame. He releases the ball from a lower three-quarters arm slot and has incorporated some drop and drive to his mechanics. Madden can locate all of his pitches for strikes at an above-average rate. This allows his stuff to stand out at times. While Ty Madden has mid-90s velocity, his fastball does play down because of its suboptimal shape. His fastball tends to get hit hard when it is left over the heart of the zone, but he has been throwing more up in the zone to avoid being hit hard. His slider is an above-average offering showing good vertical drop, causing it to fall out of the strike zone. It's not a sweeper; it's a hard-biting gyro slider that he can use to induce swings and misses in the strike zone and to provoke hitters to chase pitches outside the zone. He mixes in a curveball to left-handed batters, which has similar movement to his slider but is 10 mph slower, providing a distinct appearance for batters. He spots it well and can use it early in counts to steal strikes. Madden lacks feel for his changeup, and it does not consistently fade enough to be used frequently. He can survive by relying mostly on his fastball-slider combination against right-handed batters and fastball-slider-curveball combination against left-handed batters. With his above-average command, he can locate these pitches in spots where they are more effective. Madden's suboptimal fastball shape hurts his profile, but he could very well end up being a reliable back-end starter with his four-pitch mix. - Rhys White
Fantasy Outlook Madden commands his four-pitch repertoire well; the slider is above average and the best pitch of the bunch, a whiff-inducing secondary. Unfortunately, Madden’s 97 mph fastball is flat and easy to connect with when left over the heart of the plate. Madden’s curveball and changeup are usable, but clear tertiary offerings. Madden’s general proximity to the show, combined with his above-average command and strong, inning-eating body, earned him a spot inside the top 250 on our end-of-year 500 (245) — but the former Longhorn’s offerings are more “average” than great. Still, he’s a high-probability big leaguer. - Drew Wheeler
5. Jace Jung, 2B - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 5 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 111
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 55 | 40 | 45 | 40 | High |
Report Jung is thicker for a middle infielder with a strong lower half and broad shoulders. He’s hit the ball extremely well slashing a .254/.377/.465 slashline at High-A before doing even better at Double-A and hitting 28 homers between both levels. Although he looks to crush the ball he’s a fairly patient hitter, but has some swing-and-miss in his game which can be exploited. Jung sells out for pullside which often works as he crushes pitches in of all types but he can be exposed on pitches outside, especially ones breaking away from him as he can pull off. When he goes right, and he has so far, it’s at least an average hit tool with above average power, and at peak, it’s likely plus power. His bulkier frame and slower first step make him a 2B who might move to 3B, he lacks range but his bat plays so that might be the tradeoff. - Cameron Emamian
Fantasy Outlook A prolific college hitter, it took a year of pro ball for Jung to settle and start coming into his own. One of the most OBP-friendly players you can roster, Jung leaned into his power, increasing his pull rate about 20% en route to popping 28 home runs in 2023. We’ve got a pretty good idea of what Jung is as a fantasy contributor and he climbed to just outside our top 100 after a hot finish to Double-A. Expect a second-half 2024 debut. - Eddy Almaguer
6. Kevin McGonigle, SS - 50 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2023 MLB Draft Rank: 21
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 169
7. Wilmer Flores, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 55
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 157
8. Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 26 Highest Level: MLB
2023 Pre-season Rank: Unranked
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 119
9. Parker Meadows, OF - 45 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: MLB
2023 Pre-season Rank: 19 OFP: 45
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 175
10. Josue Briceno, C/1B - 45 OFP
Age: 19 Highest Level: A
2023 Pre-Season Rank: Unranked
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 382