By Ben Badler
January 19, 2012



Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2011.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Jacob Turner, rhp 2. Nick Castellanos, 3b 3. Drew Smyly, lhp 4. Casey Crosby, lhp 5. Andy Oliver, lhp 6. Brenny Paulino, rhp 7. Rob Brantly, c 8. Alex Burgos, lhp 9. James McCann, c 10. Avisail Garcia, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Nick Castellanos Best Power Hitter Nick Castellanos Best Strike Zone Discipline Jamie Johnson Fastest Baserunner Ismael Salgado Best Athlete Tyler Gibson Best Fastball Bruce Rondon Best Curveball Casey Crosby Best Slider Shawn Teufel Best Changeup Jacob Turner Best Control Adam Wilk Best Defensive Catcher James McCann Best Defensive Infielder Dixon Machado Best Infield Arm Dixon Machado Best Defensive OF Avisail Garcia Best Outfield Arm Avisail Garcia

PROJECTED 2015 LINEUP

Catcher Alex Avila First Base Miguel Cabrera Second Base Ramon Santiago Third Base Nick Castellanos Shortstop Jhonny Peralta Left Field Brennan Boesch Center Field Austin Jackson Right Field Avisail Garcia Designated Hitter Victor Martinez No. 1 Starter Justin Verlander No. 2 Starter Jacob Turner No. 3 Starter Doug Fister No. 4 Starter Max Scherzer No. 5 Starter Rick Porcello Closer Jose Valverde

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Nate Cornejo, rhp Tigers 2003 Jeremy Bonderman, rhp Tigers 2004 Kyle Sleeth, rhp Tigers 2005 Curtis Granderson, of Yankees 2006 Justin Verlander, rhp Tigers 2007 Cameron Maybin, of Padres 2008 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers 2009 Rick Porcello, rhp Tigers 2010 Jacob Turner, rhp Tigers 2011 Jacob Turner, rhp Tigers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Pos 2011 Org 2002 Scott Moore, SS Cubs 2003 Kyle Sleeth, RHP Out of baseball 2004 Justin Verlander, RHP Tigers 2005 Cameron Maybin, OF Padres 2006 Andrew Miller, LHP Red Sox 2007 Rick Porcello, RHP Tigers 2008 Ryan Perry, RHP Nationals 2009 Jacob Turner, RHP Tigers 2010 Nick Castellanos, 3B Tigers 2011 James McCann, C Tigers

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Jacob Turner, 2009 $4,700,000 Rick Porcello, 2007 $3,580,000 Andrew Miller, 2006 $3,550,000 Eric Munson, 1999 $3,500,000 Nick Castellanos, 2010 $3,450,000

TIGERS LINKS

Tigers Team Page Tigers Top 10 Scouting Reports Last Year's Tigers Top 10 Prospects 2011 Draft: Tigers (Basic Database) 2011 Draft: Tigers (Advanced Database) 2011 Draft Report Cards: Detroit Tigers Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook

Last year, the Tigers returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. While they lost to the Rangers in the American League Championship Series, the makeup of the AL Central and Detroit's major league roster should mean it won't have to wait five years for its next postseason appearance.

The Twins and White Sox tumbled in 2011 and have bleak outlooks in 2012. The Indians improved, though they were still just an 80-win team with significant questions. Better days are ahead for the Royals and their enviable stash of high-upside youngsters, but they don't look ready to go toe-to-toe with Detroit.

Homegrown ace Justin Verlander was dominant for the Tigers in 2011, winning the AL pitching triple crown and MVP and Cy Young awards. Yet it was Detroit's offense, which ranked fourth in the majors in scoring, that carried the team.

Miguel Cabrera is on track to become the greatest Venezuelan-born hitter of all time. Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta produced in their first seasons under multiyear deals with the Tigers. Draft finds Alex Avila (fifth round, 2008) and Brennan Boesch (third round, 2006) have turned into pleasant offensive surprises, with Avila becoming an all-star last season.

Detroit's farm system is heavier on pitchers than position players, though getting those pitchers acclimated to the big leagues hasn't been easy. Jacob Turner and Andy Oliver both pitched in the majors in 2011, as did a handful of homegrown relievers, though none found much immediate success. Former top prospect Rick Porcello will be just 23 in 2012, but he's coming off two mediocre seasons and already is arbitration-eligible.

Turner, No. 1 on this list for the third straight year, could play a role at the back of the rotation at some point this year, though some scouts aren't sure he's ready quite yet. He's a prime example of the Tigers' willingness to invest in the draft, signing a $5.5 million big league contract as the ninth overall pick in 2009. So is the system's best position prospect, third baseman Nick Castellanos, who set a supplemental first-round record with a $3.45 million bonus in 2010.

Draft spending has paid off for Detroit in the past, especially in the first round. Verlander (2004) and Porcello (2007) received lucrative deals, as did Cameron Maybin (2005) and Andrew Miller (2006), the key pieces used to get Cabrera from the Marlins in a December 2007 trade.

The Tigers broke from that blueprint in the 2011 draft, however, ranking next-to-last by spending just $2.9 million. Detroit didn't have a first-round pick in its first draft under scouting director Scott Pleis. The team also has a new farm director. Mike Rojas held the position for less than a year before becoming the big league bullpen coach in July, and infield instructor Dave Owen was promoted to replace him two months later.

Detroit has benefited from its growing international presence, which has yielded several of the best prospects in its system, including Latin American righthanders Brenny Paulino, Bruce Rondon and Ramon Lebron and outfielder Avisail Garcia. The Tigers used a pair of Venezuelans, third baseman Francisco Martinez and righthander Lester Oliveros, in deadline deals to get playoff heroes Doug Fister from the Mariners and outfielder Delmon Young from the Twins.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2012 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team