Detroit Tigers top prospects: How they are performing in the 2024 season
The Detroit Tigers are off to their best start in years, and all eyes are on how the young team can stay competitive deep into the summer. The promising group of prospects in the minor leagues could be one avenue of help, both this season and the foreseeable future.
The Tigers have one of the youngest lineups in baseball, in terms of both hitting and pitching, and came into the season with a top-five farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.
Colt Keith, the Tigers' everyday second baseman, and the electrifying Wenceel Pérez are the two top prospects to contribute at the major league level so far, but others carry past experience.
Here's a look at how the Tigers' top prospects are performing this season.
(All statistics through Saturday.)
1. OF Max Clark
Age: 19.
Team: Low-A Lakeland.
Stats: .253 AVG/.366 OBP/.349 SLG, 1 HR, 15 RBIs in 83 at-bats over 22 games.
More: What Tigers prospect Max Clark thinks about Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford
2. 2B Colt Keith
Age: 22.
Team: Detroit Tigers.
Stats: .155/.224.175, 0 HRs, 8 RBIs in 97 at-bats in 29 games.
3. RHP Jackson Jobe
Age: 21.
Team: Double-A Erie.
Stats: 0-1, 2.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 16⅔ innings, seven hits, 10 walks and 24 strikeouts in five starts.
HURT LOCKER: Tigers prospect Jackson Jobe placed on injured list with hamstring strain
4. 2B/3B Jace Jung
Age: 23.
Team: Triple-A Toledo.
Stats: .252/.377/.478, 5 HR, 25 RBIs in 111 at-bats over 31 games as a second and third baseman.
5. RHP Ty Madden
Age: 24.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: 0-0, 5.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 20⅔ innings, 18 hits, six walks and 26 strikeouts in five starts with Erie (4) and Toledo (1).
6. SS/2B Kevin McGonigle
Age: 19.
Team: Lakeland.
Stats: .333/.467/.458, 0 HR, 3 RBIs in 24 at-bats in eight games.
7. OF Justyn-Henry Malloy
Age: 24.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: .279/.424/.462, 3 HR, 16 RBIs in 104 at-bats over 30 games.
8. RHP Keider Montero
Age: 23.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: 0-0, 1.77 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 20⅓ innings, 14 hits, 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in six starts.
9. RHP Wilmer Flores
Age: 23.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: 2-0, 4.67 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 17⅓ innings, 15 hits, 16 walks and 13 strikeouts in 10 relief appearances.
10. RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long
Age: 26.
Team: Detroit (injured list).
Stats: Gipson-Long will miss all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery for an injury in spring training.
11. RHP Troy Melton
Age: 23.
Team: Erie.
Stats: 0-2, 3.60 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 20 innings, 24 hits, seven walks and 19 strikeouts in five starts.
12. OF Justice Bigbie
Age: 25.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: .224/.314/.327, 1 HR, eight RBIs in 107 at-bats over 29 games.
13. C Dillon Dingler
Age: 25.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: .243/.301/.446, 4 HRs, 13 RBIs in 74 at-bats over 22 games.
14. 2B Hao-Yu Lee
Age: 21.
Team: Erie.
Stats: .250/.327/.370, 1 HR, eight RBIs in 92 at-bats through 23 games.
15. LHP Brant Hurter
Age: 25.
Team: Toledo.
Stats: 0-1, 5.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 24 innings, 25 hits, nine walks and 30 strikeouts in six starts.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers top prospects: Minor league statistics for 2024
