Detroit Top 5
5. Bruce Rondon SP
If you're not familiar with Rondon's arsenal, he features a fastball that ranges from 99-102. Seriously. 102. If you don't believe me, check out his pitch f/x from yesterday, July 8, or his player card on Brooks Baseball. His fastball average for July is 101.8. That is not slow. Reports in the minor leagues have discussed plus movement on said fastball. In the majors, I haven't seen it yet. But, once he settles in, the movement may return. He also features a 90 MPH slider, which flashes plus (how couldn't it? he throws 102) and a 92 MPH change. Seriously. A 92 MPH change up. That pitch has flashed plus, too.
4. Jonathon Crawford SP/RP
As far as Jonathon's repertoire goes, his fastball sits mostly in the 91-94 range, yet can touch 96 or 97. He is known to maintain his velocity deep into games. His slider is his best pitch. No doubt about it. It's got two plane, tight, sharp break, and depending who you're talking to, is either a plus, or even plus plus on the scouting scale. He will throw it at any time, in any count, and typically uses it as his out pitch. His change up is a work in progress, and I'm sure that the Tigers will attempt to develop that pitch if they intend on making him a starter. He has trouble controlling it, but the pitch has the potential to become major league average.
3. Danry Vazquez
He's wirey at 6'3 170, and is already relegated to a corner spot in the OF. But oh man, that swing is so, so sweet. He keeps the bat flat through the hitting zone for a really long time, especially for a teenager. Danry has also got a nice approach at the plate, evidenced by the 7.5% walk rate and only a 14% K rate (which is awesome).
2. Avisail Garcia
Garcia is legitimately a 5 tool talent. He has put on legendary batting practice displays, shown some in game power as well, squares the ball up and hits for average, is a plus runner (I'm not debating this again), a plus defender in a corner OF spot, and has a cannon for an arm. He can impact the game without hitting.
It's evident at this point that Garcia is too good for the minors. He's hitting .463/.478/.657 in AAA so far. I think you'll see him in AAA for an extended period of time, probably for another 6 weeks of AB. Avi needs to play every day to hone his skills. The 'problem', if you want to call it that, is that AAA pitchers are not good enough to feast on his weaknesses, and he's able to mash their mistakes. The only way that Garcia is probably going to improve at this point is by taking his lumps in the majors, before ultimately adjusting and having success.
1. Nick Castellanos
As far as Castellanos' ceiling goes, I think it's hard to imagine. At his ceiling and prime, something line .300/.375/.525 is not out of the realm of possibility. He could amass over 60 extra base hits no problem. I am not a big fan of player comps, but his numbers could look similar to someone like Billy Butler, who is a damn good hitter. I think that he will play the outfield for a couple more seasons, and hopefully, switch back to 3B, like what Chase Headley of San Diego did a couple years ago. At 3B, there is not as much pressure for the bat to play, like there is in the OF, and if Castellanos could put up a low to mid 800's OPS while playing average D at 3B, that is an impact player.
source
[ Edited by Garcia on Jul 15, 2013 at 3:57 PM ]
