Freep: Tigers have everything working: winning in Detroit while developing talent in minors

The Den
1

# Tigers have everything working: winning in Detroit while developing talent in minors
Full article at Link.

======

Now, think about something else. Think about how those three were acquired. Because that’s a story that should not be forgotten.

Some freaked out when the Tigers passed on Wyatt Langford with the third pick in the 2023 MLB draft. Because Langford was more developed, more MLB ready, having played at Florida. Langford made his MLB debut in 2024. In his first 203 career games, he had 29 homers with .245 batting average and a 5.4 WAR. And yes, that supports those who thought the Tigers should have drafted him.

Instead, the Tigers took Clark at No.3 and McGonigle at No.37, two high school prospects. Yes, I contend, you have to consider them together. Because the Tigers got Clark under slot value (he signed for $7.6 million at a position in the draft with a $8.3 million value) and the Tigers were able to use the extra savings and take McGonigle over slot value (he signed at $2.8 million at slot with a $2.3 million value).

On the other hand, the Rangers signed Langford signed over slot ($8 million) at a spot in the draft valued at $7.6 million.

In short, if the Tigers had drafted Langford, they wouldn’t have gotten McGonigle, who “might be might have the best hit tool in the minors and has been a double machine when healthy this season,” according to MLB Pipeline.

While it might make great sports radio to debate if you would rather have Langford helping right now on a team with World Series potential, it is also true that the Tigers farm system is stacked with talent and positioned to sustain success over time because of a bunch of savvy moves. Like how they got both Clark and McGonigle.

=======

All of that leaves the Tigers in a fascinating situation… you start to see a glut of prospects in the system.

All of this leads me to my bigger point: Now, that the Tigers have a ton of prospects in the minors, it means Tigers have several options to be buyers at the trade deadline. To give the big-league club a final boost by trading some prospects without decimating the farm system. It’s like they are loaded up, ready to make the big-league club better.

This is how it’s supposed to work. This is what a top-notch organization looks like.
…

This is what we have been missing, lo these many years.

=====

4 Likes
2

And then Briceno…

====

Which brings us to Briceño, who is a prime example of how the Tigers are finding and developing players. Briceño was born in Maracay, Venezuela − Miguel Cabrera’s hometown – and the Tigers signed him for an $800,000 bonus in January 2022 during the international signing period.

Since then, all he’s done is hit. In 194 games in the Tigers system, he has 28 homers, with a .286 batting average and .867 OPS. There was a time when he was considered a below average catcher, but he continues to develop because of some great work by the Tigers minor league coaches.

“He wants to be a catcher,” Cappuccilli told me on June 14. “He walks around like a catcher. He carries himself like a catcher.”

And Briceño’s getting better. His receiving has improved and his arm is better than expected.

“It’s really been a pleasant surprise,” Cappuccilli said. “You see him getting more and more comfortable. He’s exceeded our expectations back there, both with his desire to be back there and his improvement.”

Having that tool in his toolbox, as Hinch likes to say, will only make Briceño more valuable down the road and give the Tigers even more flexibility in years to come.

4 Likes
3

Even the bat boy is an all star.

You know your doing something right when the bat boy is going to Atlanta too.

2 Likes
4

The ball girl didn’t make it though. She needs to get her shit together. Lol balls going through her legs several times per game :smiley:

2 Likes
5

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.