Detroit Tigers prospects: Tarik Skubal jumps Casey Mize in Baseball America’s rankings

Detroit Free Press

Evan Petzold
 
| Detroit Free Press

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There wasn’t as much to evaluate from the Detroit Tigers‘ farm system, or from other teams, in the 2020 season because the minors were canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, Baseball America released Friday its annual preseason top 10 prospect list for the Tigers as part of a series with all 30 MLB teams. Third baseman Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, maintained his top position in the rankings.

Torkelson and outfielder Riley Greene competed in summer camp in July, at the alternate training site in Toledo in August and September and at the team’s instructional league in Lakeland, Florida, in October and November.

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The Tigers had 10 players make their MLB debuts last season, including right-hander Casey Mize, left-hander Tarik Skubal, third baseman Isaac Paredes, outfielder Daz Cameron, shortstop Sergio Alcantara and outfielder Derek Hill

Skubal and Cameron made the biggest jumps in the rankings, each moving up two spots. Mize and fellow right-hander Matt Manning each dropped one spot, as did catcher Dillon Dingler. Paredes moved up one spot, and righty Alex Faedo fell two spots.

Torkelson, Greene and outfielder Daniel Cabrera didn’t move.

[ Why Spencer Torkelson’s real development for Tigers is a secret to many ]

Here is Baseball America’s top 10 list, with the players’ 2020 midseason rankings in parenthesis to show their movement:

1. 1B/3B Spencer Torkelson (1)

2. LHP Tarik Skubal (4)

3. RHP Casey Mize (2)

4. RHP Matt Manning (3)

5. OF Riley Greene (5)

6. 3B Isaac Paredes (7)

7. C Dillon Dingler (6)

8. OF Daz Cameron (10)

9. OF Daniel Cabrera (9)

10. RHP Alex Faedo (8)

Skubal passed Mize in the rankings after both pitched for the Tigers in 2020. Skubal had a 5.63 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks in 32 innings across eight games (seven starts). Mize finished the year with a 6.99 ERA, 26 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28⅓ innings through his seven starts.

Also, Baseball America released a projected 2024 lineup, which has Torkelson at first base, Greene in right field and a starting rotation of Skubal (No. 1), Mize (No. 2), Manning (No. 3), Spencer Turnbull (No. 4) and Faedo (No. 5).

For prospects possessing the best tools within the organization, Torkelson earned honors for being the best hitter for average, best power hitter and for having the best strike-zone discipline.

[ Tigers’ second-tier prospects could tilt rebuild toward success ]

Of the top tools, there are 15 categories and 12 prospects represented: Torkelson, Mize, Greene, Faedo, Alcantara, Hill, Parker Meadows, Jason Foley, Keider Montero, Paul Richan, Jake Rogers and Cole Peterson.

Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.

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