Can Young Cadre Lift Tigers in AL Central?

ALSO: HALL OF FAME LIKELY TO WELCOME NEW WAVE OF MANAGERS

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Pregame Pepper

Did you know…

Fleet Philly signee Trea Turner, who has topped the National League twice each in hits and steals, could be the biggest beneficiary from new rules the increase base size but limit pickoff throws . . .

Scott Boras, who’s still trying to get his entire client list signed, has already arranged four nine-figure contracts and a bunch of others, adding up to $1.24 billion — and quite a commission for the California-based agent . . .

Speaking of dollars, pennant-starved Mets owner Steve Cohen has spent $460 million on future player salaries . . .

Still trying to figure how Harrison Bader hit five postseason homers — one more than Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Station combined — for the 2022 Yankees after failing to hit any during the regular season . . .

Adding Chris Bassitt certainly bolsters the Blue Jays’ pitching staff but nothing would be better than a similar season by Alek Manoah, returning after posting a 2.24 ERA (over 196 2/3 innings) that was second-best in team history to the 2.05 of Roger Clemens during his Cy Young season of 1997 . . .

Surely someone can use slugging infielder Mike Moustakas, still just 34 despite two bad years in a row and released this week by the Cincinnati Reds . . .

Whatever happened to four-time Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons, when last seen a very under-appreciated free agent . . .

Rafael Devers has joined Wade Boggs and Frank Malzone as the only Red Sox third basemen to start multiple All-Star games for the American League.

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Leading Off

Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Prospects for 2023

Rookies will get long looks during Tigers spring training at Joker Marchant Park in Lakeland, FL this spring.

By Joe Underhill

Things could change with more trades or free-agent signings, but these were the Top 10 prospects of the up-and-coming Detroit Tigers as the new year opened:

1. Jace Jung 2B: It's Jung and Colt Keith who are the best potential hitters in the Tigers system. Jung has the plate discipline and power to be a fixture in the middle of the Tigers line-up.

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2. Jackson Jobe SRHP: Jobe has four above average pitches that he matches with slightly above average command. The number three overall pick from the 2021 draft improved across the 2022 season and should start the year in High A. If he continues to build on his potential, he is a front-line starter.

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3. Wilmer Flores SRHP: Flores was a non-drafted free agent signed after the 2020 draft. He features a plus fastball and curve, but command has been an issue. If the command continues to improve and he adds a reliable third pitch (he’s been working on a change up and cutter), he’s a potential No. 2 starter. Worse case: his fastball/curve combo could turn him into a high-leverage reliever.

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4. Colt Keith 3B/2B: The bat is Keith's calling card. Keith looked to be on his way to a rapid advancement in the Tigers system before he suffered a freak injury to his shoulder diving back into first base. His final stat line at High A: .301/.370/.544 with a .914 OPS and 26 extra-base hits. The Tigers were having Keith play both third and second to give his bat the best chance to be in the lineup. After rehab Keith played well in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .344/.463/.541 for an OPS of 1.004 and an even 16/16 strikeout-to walks. While rehabbing Keith added extra weight (all muscle), but that extra mass seemed to impact his ability in the field. Long term defensive home is a question, but the bat will play.
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5. Ty Madden SRHP: The Tigers went back-to-back pitchers in 2021 taking Madden with their competitive balance pick (32 overall). Madden won Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award but fell due in part to concerns about his ability to pitch up in the zone. Madden has shown both a willingness and an ability to keep hitters honest with his fastball command pitching to all quadrants of the zone. Madden has a plus fastball and slider combo and flashes above average changeup and curveball. Overall, he has the look of a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.
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6. Peyton Graham SS: Graham was the Tigers second round pick in 2022 after playing his college baseball at Oklahoma. Graham moved from third to shortstop while in college and depending on how his body develops could stick at short in the majors. In a 27-game cameo for low A, Graham slashed .270/.345/.370 with an OPS of .715. He needs to continue to work on improving his control of the strike zone but has the look of a player who can contribute every day at the major- league level.
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7. Izaac Pacheco 3B: Pacheco was the Tigers second round pick in 2021 as a high school shortstop, but his long-term home is probably at third base. Pacheco has above average power and plays above average defense. The strike zone control needs some improvement, but Pacheco has the tools to be an impact bat.
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8. Parker Meadows CF: Meadows was a second-round pick by the Tigers in 2018 out of high school, who is one of if not the fastest player in the system. He uses that speed to play plus defense in center. The bat has been the question, with a long swing and a hitch that has led to high strikeouts and low contact rates. Swing adjustments in 2022 allowed Meadows to improve his contract rate and tap into his natural above average power. Meadows slashed .275/.354/.466 with an OPS of .820 at AA Erie in 113 games. If he can maintain his 2022, Meadows will be on track to see time at AAA before a September call-up.
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9. Justyn-Henry Malloy 3B/LF: The first prospect new Tigers president Scott Harris has acquired; Malloy has good strike-zone discipline and a whole-field approach that should play well in Comerica Park. The glove is the question-mark, but with his infield/outfield flexibility, Malloy should give the Tigers some options. The former Atlanta prospect, picked up in the Joe Jimenez trade last month, will come to spring training with a chance to make the MLB team.
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10. Wenceel Perez 2B/SS: Perez is a switch-hitter whose bat is ahead of his glove. He had a bounce back in 2022 after struggling with his first taste of high-A in 2021. Perez made it to AA Erie where he slashed .307/.374/.540 with an OPS of .914 in 39 games. Perez will most likely spend 2023 between AA and AAA but has a chance to impact the major league roster with his bat and infield versatility.  

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Joe Underhill is a high school administrator and diehard baseball fan and fan of the city of Detroit. Joe currently writes for www.tigstown.com. You can follow Joe on Twitter @TransplantedDet or e.mail joe.underhill@auburn.org.

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Cleaning Up

Hall of Fame Could Find Room For More Managers in Class of 2024

By Dan Schlossberg

Almost a decade has passed since a former incarnation of the Veterans Committee elected a trio of managers to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2014 included Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa.

The committee’s name has changed but it could still make history repeat at the Nashville Winter Meetings in December.

Now called the Contemporary Eras Committee for non-players, it is one of three off-shoots of the old Veterans Committee that now meets once every three years on a rotating basis.

This year, it will vote on non-players — managers, executives, and umpires — who made their greatest impact after 1980.

Dusty Baker, shown here at the 2022 Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego, is virtually certain to reach Cooperstown the minute he retires as an active manager. Credit: Dan Schlossberg

If Houston’s Dusty Baker retires after this season, when he’ll be 74, he’ll certainly occupy a space on the ballot. So should Lou Piniella, who missed election by one vote in a previous try, and Jim Leyland. Maybe Davey Johnson too.

Bruce Bochy, about to begin a three-year contract to manage the Texas Rangers, isn’t eligible because he’s still active. The same applies to Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies.

But both are locks for future elections.

Here’s a quick look at five former managers with solid cases for election:

Davey Johnson, once a slugging second baseman, was the manager of the 1986 New York Mets, a world championship team. Johnson, who missed induction in four previous tries, compiled a winning percentage 301 games above .500 while managing the Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, and Nationals in addition to the Mets.

Billy Martin, like Johnson a second baseman, finished first five times — with four different teams. Brash Billy, who had five stints as manager of the Yankees during the tumultuous George Steinbrenner years, won the 1977 World Series as a manager, giving him a total of five rings. His No. 1 was retired by the Yankees in 1986.

Gene Mauch, another infielder who became a manager, came within a win of the World Series three times but never made it — in 26 frustrating years as manager. “The Little General” managed the Phillies, Twins, Angels, and expansion Expos, where he was the first pilot in Montreal’s major-league history. That stint cost him, as Mauch finished with a .483 winning percentage despite his reputation as a managerial genius.

Jim Leyland, on the other hand, won more games than he lost. A three-time Manager of the Year, he won the World Series with the wild-card Marlins of 1997 but also came close with the Pirates and Tigers. He also managed the Colorado Rockies.

Lou Piniella, who missed election by one vote in 2019, managed the Yankees, Reds, Mariners, Rays, and Cubs. He won the 1990 World Series, defeating the favored Oakland A’s, and took the Mariners to the playoffs four times — including a season (2001) in which his team won a record 116 games. He also won consecutive division titles with the Cubs.

HERE’S THE PITCH weekend editor Dan Schlossberg also writes for forbes.com, Latino Sports, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, and other outlets. Dan’s e.mail is ballauthor@gmail.com.

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Timeless Trivia

During the 2022 campaign, American League MVP Aaron Judge became the first player with a piece of the major-league lead in home runs, runs, extra-base hits, and RBI since Mickey Mantle during his Triple Crown season of 1956 . . .

If he hits 62 home runs again, Judge would earn $645,161 based upon his current nine-year, $360 million Yankees contract . . .

From Sarah Langs of MLB.com: After ranking sixth in strikeouts by a pitcher (219 in 166 innings) and tied for 11th in home runs (34) last year, Shohei Ohtani was the first man to finish in the Top 15 in both categories since the pitching mound was moved to its current distance of 60’6” in 1893 . . .

Spring training will be a sticky wicket for the St. Louis Cardinals, who will lose Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Adam Wainwright, and Miles Mikolas to Team USA once the World Baseball Classic begins March 8 . . .

The Seattle Mariners, the only team never to win a pennant, might have changed their luck in 2023 with trade acquisitions Teoscar Hernandez, a slugging outfielder with 30-homer power, and Kolten Wong, a two-time Gold Glover at second base . . .

Only six players had 3,000 hits and 500 homers before Miguel Cabrera joined them in 2022.

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Know Your Editors

HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Brian Harl [bchrom831@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.

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