This is the highest ranking of the farm system in Baseball America’s history.
As new prospect rankings emerged this winter from the major national sites, they rapidly joined our consensus opinion that the Detroit Tigers have one of the best, if now the best farm system in the game. The Tigers have had six players consistently ranked in national top 100 lists, with a few more just outside that level. Baseball America came out with their system rankings on Wednesday, and that stockpile of talent has the Tigers as their second ranked system after the Boston Red Sox .
Plenty has been written about Jackson Jobe, Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark already. Al Avila left a prize pitching prospect and a lot of quality system depth behind for Harris and company. An excellent first draft in 2023 did the rest. However, it was the additions through trade and development over the past year and a half that really boosted the system to the top of the league.
The Jack Flaherty trade brought them catcher Thayron Liranzo, whose rapid pace of development in all phases of the game made him an easy lock for top 100 status. Slugging catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño emerged as one of the most precocious young power prospects in the game. Jace June slipped off a few lists but still made appearances near the back of the top 100. And another trade acquisition, infielder Hao-Yu Lee, continued to develop really well at the plate, posting one of the better seasons by a 20-year-old in Double-A in recent memory. You can also consider RHP Jaden Hamm just on the outside of most top 100 lists. RHP Joseph Montalvo, acquired from the Texas Rangers for Andrew Chafin last summer, is another young talent who will be on breakout watch this year.
Then there was the draft. The selection of prep shortstop Bryce Rainer was well received as the Tigers first rounder, and he is on all the top 100 lists as well. It also helps that second rounder and comp B picks RHP Owen Hall and LHP Ethan Schiefelbein are both well regarded young pitchers despite not having debuted in pro ball yet. The Tigers also saw some nice breakouts from a few other young players, notably RHP Rayner Castillo, SS Franyerber Montilla, and LHP Gabriel Reyes, all international prospects.
What’s really impressive has the mix of draft success and smart trades for prospects. Neither Liranzo nor Hao-Yu Lee was nearly as well regarded as they are now when Harris traded for them. The Tigers prep heavy draft strategy needs time to come to fruition, and a lot can happen in the meantime. However, so far they appear to be doing outstanding work with two drafts under the Harris-led front work, and the industry agrees.
Baseball America adds a note about the Tigers cohesive approach to scouting and player development as a big factor in turning the organization into a consistent force from top to bottom. The Tigers are coaching players better, they’re scouting better under Rob Metzler and Mark Connor, and they’re scouting for types of players they know how to develop well. As a result they’re getting a lot of significant quick improvements as players enter the system.
The Red Sox grade out as the top system in baseball despite dealing some good prospects to the Chicago White Sox to acquire LHP Garrett Crochet. OF Roman Anthony is widely considered the top prospect in the game. Behind him they have SS Marcelo Mayer and OF Kristian Campbell, both elite tier players near the top of top 100 lists. Anthony gives them an edge, but I’d argue the Tigers top 10 is better right now. No point in quibbling too much though, as it’s how all these young players refine their games and eventually transition to the major leagues that matters.
Rounding out the top five are the Dodgers in the third spot, but largely there on the basis of signing RHP Roki Sasaki, who will graduate immediately. The Chicago White Sox check in fourth, with the Seattle Mariners fifth overall. You can read the full article here.