Detroit Tigers

Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Faedo went 28-6 in three years at Florida and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 College World Series after leading the Gators to the national title. The Tigers drafted him 18th overall and signed him for $3.5 million. Faedo suffered a mysterious drop in velocity in his first full season, but he rebounded in 2019 to finish third in the Double-A Eastern League with 134 strikeouts. He expected to compete for a spot in the majors in 2020, but he tested positive for COVID-19 in July and was shut down with a forearm strain in late August after a brief stint at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: When healthy, Faedo’s fastball sits 91-93 mph and touches 95. His main weapon is his slider. It’s an above-average pitch and he can manipulate its length depending if he’s trying to land it for a strike or get a batter to chase. Faedo’s changeup is a fringe-average offering he needs to throw more regularly to become an average pitch. He is an intense competitor who goes right after hitters, throws strikes and draws rave reviews for his makeup.

THE FUTURE: Faedo’s competitive edge and three-pitch mix are enough for scouts to project a back-of-the-rotation starter. His health is a question mark entering 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Wentz was selected 40th overall by the Braves in 2016 and won South Atlantic League pitcher of the year in his first full season. He missed much of the 2018 season with an oblique injury and was traded to the Tigers in 2019 as part of the deal for Shane Greene. Instead of making his Tigers debut in 2020 as planned, Wentz had Tommy John surgery in March.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wentz leads his three-pitch mix with a fastball that sits comfortably at 91-93 mph with late life. While his fastball doesn't have the same velocity as the other top arms, its action through the zone is enough to generate plenty of swings and misses. Wentz complements his heater with a mid-tohigh-70s curveball with late break, making it difficult for opposing hitters to identify early. Wentz's mid 80s changeup is his strongest secondary offering and projects as an above-average pitch. Wentz projects to make a living off of his deception rather than overwhelming velocity.

THE FUTURE: Wentz still has more rehab time ahead of him. His pitch mix and durable frame allow him to project as a back-end starter.

TRACK RECORD: The younger brother of Rays outfielder Austin Meadows, Parker was drafted in the second round by the Tigers in 2018 and signed for an above-slot $2.5 million to forgo a Clemson commitment. After slashing .290/.377/.473 in his pro debut, Meadows struggled in 2019 at low Class A West Michigan as one of the Midwest League's youngest players. The Tigers brought him to their alternate training site late in the 2020 season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Meadows moves exceptionally well for his 6-foot-5 frame and is athletic enough to navigate his long arms and legs on both sides of the ball. He has the strength and leverage to access plus raw power, but he struggles to time up pitches because of a lengthy bat path. Whether he can make enough contact will depend on him shortening his swing. Defensively, Meadows profiles near the top of the organization in speed and athleticism and takes good reads and solid routes in center field, though scouts are split on whether he'll stick there as he continues to fill out a large frame.

THE FUTURE: Meadows has plenty of athleticism and physicality to dream on, but will need time. He'll see high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Baddoo 74th overall in 2016 and signed him for $750,000, intrigued by his present strength and bat-to-ball skills. While Baddoo has been limited by injuries, including a Tommy John surgery in 2019, he has shown an exciting blend of power and speed when healthy. The Tigers took a shot on his upside potential by selecting him with the third pick in the major league phase of the 2020 Rule 5 draft. After an outstanding spring training, Baddoo made their Opening Day roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Twins believed Baddoo had a chance for average hitting ability and average power, though the elevated strikeout rates he had shown in Class A put that hitting ability projection out at risk. His swing got a bit too steep, which limited the time his barrel was in the zone. Baddoo struck out nearly 30% of the time in a 29-game stint in the high Class A Florida State League in 2019 after posting a 24% strikeout rate in the low Class A Midwest League in 2018 over 113 games. Baddoo is a plus athlete and runner who can handle all three outfield positions. Some scouts think he's solidly above-average in center field, while others believe he's better in the corners. A below-average arm makes left field a distinct possibility.

THE FUTURE: Baddoo's power, speed and outfield versatility make him a candidate to become a fourth outfielder. He'll have to improve his bat-to-ball skills and cut down the whiffs to project as a regular.

TRACK RECORD: Campos grabbed enough attention during the 2019 international signing period to land a $2.85 million from the Tigers, the largest bonus for any Cuban player in the class. His expected pro debut in 2020 was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, and he did not participate in instructional league either.

SCOUTING REPORT: A solid 6-foot-3, 200 pounds already at 17 years old, Campos has plus-plus raw power and shows the instinct to hit to all fields. He controls the strike zone well for his age and has an advanced approach. With Campos' body still developing, the Tigers are optimistic he will be an impact hitter. His defensive projections are more uncertain. He is still learning to play the outfield and shows the average speed and plus arm strength that will fit in right field, but he is still raw and needs reps.

THE FUTURE: Campos' hitting ability gives him a solid foundation. He has many years of development ahead, but the Tigers hope he can develop into an everyday right fielder.

TRACK RECORD: The Tigers landed one of the top shortstops in the 2020-21 international class by signing Santana out of the Dominican Republic on Jan. 15, 2021.

SCOUTING REPORT: Santana, a cousin of Tigers shortstop prospect Wenceel Perez, is an advanced hitter for his age with a good chance to stay at shortstop. At 6 feet, 175 pounds, he has a quick, compact swing and a mature approach for his age, with the ability to recognize breaking balls and control the strike zone. He's mostly a line-drive hitter who has performed well in games, driving the ball well to both gaps with a chance to grow into 15-20 home run power. An average runner with a strong lower half, Santana has quick feet, good hands and an above-average arm that could tick up with more strength gains.

THE FUTURE: Santana is far away from the majors, but he has the upside to be the best shortstop the Tigers have signed out of the Dominican Republic since Willy Adames. He will make his pro debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Packard won American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina. He was hampered by back discomfort and a wrist injury as a junior, but the Tigers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $386,600. Packard immediately hit upon signing and climbed three levels up to high Class A Lakeland in his pro debut. His only 2020 action came in instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Packard shows good hitter's instincts and possesses a natural ability to drive the ball. He controls the strike zone and has fluid barrel control, allowing him to pick out hittable pitches and square them up consistently. Packard isn't much of a runner, but his plus raw power allows him to rack up extra-base hits. Defensively, Packard is simply adequate in a corner with well below-average speed and a well below-average arm. Scouts wonder if he'll have to move to first base.

THE FUTURE: Packard is going to have to mash in order to make up for his defensive shortcomings, but he may have the bat to do it. He should see the upper minors at some point in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Cruz is the son of former outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of longtime outfielder Jose Cruz. Trei was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and the Nationals in 2019 but opted not to sign either time. After making significant improvements on both sides of the ball his junior year at Rice, Cruz was drafted by the Tigers in the third round and signed for $900,000. After signing, Cruz played in the independent Constellation Energy League before heading to instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: The switch-hitting Cruz has a solid track record of hitting, particularly from the left side, and plus raw power. His extremely aggressive approach has precluded him from getting to that power so far, but the Tigers hope further development will allow him to tap into it in games. Cruz has played second base, third base and shortstop. His soft hands and plus arm should permit him to stay in the dirt, but his below-average speed makes shortstop a stretch.

THE FUTURE: Cruz has work to do to access his power and solidify a defensive position. His hitting ability gives him a solid foundation to work from as he begins his pro career in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Tigers signed two prominent shortstops in their 2020-21 international class on Jan. 15, 2021, landing Cristian Santana from the Dominican Republic and Abel Bastidas from Venezuela.

SCOUTING REPORT: Basidas has a long, lanky frame with smooth defense at shortstop. Some scouts thought Bastidas might outgrow the position and end up at third base, but others thought as long as he stayed lean and agile he should be able to handle shortstop. Bastidas is a fundamentally sound fielder with soft hands and fluid, easy actions. He plays calm and under control for his age with a good internal clock, an above-average arm and speed that has trended up to above-average, though he might slow down as he fills out. Bastidas is a switch-hitter with a loose, easy swing from both sides of the plate with good hand-eye coordination. The ball carries off his bat well with occasional over-the-fence juice to his pull side and the physical projection to grow into significantly more power once he fills out.

THE FUTURE: Bastidas has promising projection indicators, though he’s still several years from being in the big league picture. He will make his pro debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Clemens has a pedigree few can match. He is the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens and won Big 12 Conference player of the year at Texas in 2018, leading the Tigers to draft him in the third round. Clemens struggled to hit in his first full season but still made his way to Double-A by the end of the year. He spent 2020 in the independent Constellation Energy League and again struggled to hit, batting .233/.291/.456.

SCOUTING REPORT: Clemens has an average, well-rounded toolset, but his aggressive approach overshadows it and leads to diminished production. He has worked to trim his swings and misses, and he does have developing double-digit home run power, but it will be up to him to make adjustments to make more contact moving forward. Clemens is a competitive, instinctual ballplayer with solid situational awareness on the bases and in the field. He steals bases efficiently despite just fringe-average speed and is a solid second baseman who plays with an extra dose of grit.

THE FUTURE: Clemens will need to make more contact against advanced pitching in order to reach the majors. That will be his main goal in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Tigers drafted the touted Burrows 22nd overall in the 2015 draft and pushed him aggressively, highlighted by an assignment to Double-A as a 20-year-old. Burrows struggled with injuries and inconsistency once he got to the upper levels and posted a 5.51 ERA at Triple-A in 2019, but the Tigers still brought him up to the majors in 2020. He made five relief appearances and allowed four runs in 6.2 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Burrows' fastball sits comfortably at 92-95 mph and touches a few ticks higher. His curveball was much more successful prior to Triple-A, but under the right guidance it could still land as a fringe-average offering. There have been improvements to Burrows' changeup but it still lacks consistency. Burrows hasn't leaned on his slider much in recent years. Instead, he's tried to learn a cutter, but it has a ways to go as well. While the consistency of his four-pitch mix fluctuates, Burrows has enough confidence in his pitches to mix them fairly evenly.

THE FUTURE: Without a true out pitch, it's hard to project Burrows as much more than a low-leverage reliever. Simply improving any of his offspeeds would raise his ceiling slightly.

TRACK RECORD: Viewed as the top defensive catcher in the 2016 draft class, Rogers was drafted by the Astros in the third round and traded to the Tigers a year later with Daz Cameron and Franklin Perez for Justin Verlander. Rogers rose through Double-A and Triple-A up to the majors for his debut in 2019, but he spent all of 2020 at the alternate training site and did not receive a callup.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rogers shines behind the plate defensively. He has cat-like quickness and footwork and plus arm strength. He has improved his ability to properly block and frame. He draws praise for his attitude and work ethic, and pitchers like throwing to him. Rogers' offense is a different story. An uphill swing leads to inconsistent contact and struggles against offspeed pitches, in particular. Rogers does have some raw power, but he doesn't project to make enough contact to get to it.

THE FUTURE: Rogers needs a swing change in order to be in the lineup every day, even with his defensive abilities. His most likely outcome is a backup catcher.

TRACK RECORD: The 23rd overall pick in 2014, Hill was sidetracked by injuries almost as soon as his career began. He missed time with lower back pain when he signed, was limited by a recurring quad injury in 2015 and had Tommy John surgery late in the 2016 season. Hill played 100 games in a season for the first time in 2018 and steadily made his way up the minors, culminating in his big league debut in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Even after all his injuries, Hill remains an explosive athlete. He dazzles defensively in center field with his plus-plus speed and outstanding defensive skills. Few doubt he would be one of the top defensive center fielders in the major leagues with regular playing time. Hill has discovered some power as he's gotten stronger, but he's a below-average hitter who swings and misses too frequently to be in the lineup everyday. He struck out in half of his plate appearances in his big league debut and doesn't have the approach or swing conducive to big league success.

THE FUTURE: Hill's defense is exceptional, but without significant improvements as a hitter, he's no more than a bench option.

TRACK RECORD: Keith was Mississippi's high school player of the year as a junior in 2019 and stood out as one of the best hitters on the high school showcase circuit the following summer. The Tigers drafted him in the fifth round in 2020 and signed him for $500,000 to forgo an Arizona State commitment. Keith played shortstop and pitched in high school, but the Tigers drafted him as a third baseman and sent him out to the hot corner in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Keith has an impressive array of tools that include plus raw power, plus arm strength and plus speed. He mostly got by on his natural athleticism in high school and didn't face the strongest competition on a daily basis in Mississippi, but he shows the ability to pull the ball for home runs and drive the ball hard on a line to the opposite field. Keith's natural loft and bat speed should lead to power as his body continues to develop and he adjusts to more advanced pitchers. Keith has advanced glove work and the arm for third base. He could also slide to right field if needed.

THE FUTURE: Keith will face a steep adjustment against professional pitchers. If he shows he can handle it, he has the athleticism and tools to be a breakout prospect in the system.

TRACK RECORD: Signed by the Tigers for $1.45 million, Reyes hit .331/.379/.508 in a loud pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. His expected U.S. debut in 2020 was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he got on the field in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Reyes has impressive natural strength and fluid swing. He drives the ball to all fields and projects to grow into plus power as he gets older. Reyes' impact potential is exciting, but he is still working to improve his pitch recognition and streamline a lengthy swing. He has worked to improve his pitch recognition while streamlining a lengthy swing. He is still getting a feel for his developing frame. Reyes is a shortstop now and moves well in the field, but he will likely move to third base as he gets bigger. He has enough arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield.

THE FUTURE: Reyes is intriguing but largely unproven. He'll make his U.S. debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Johnson never hit much in college at Mississippi, but his defense behind the plate was so outstanding, the Tigers still drafted him in the sixth round in 2019. He began his career at short-season Connecticut and held his own before he was promoted to low Class A West Michigan, where he was overwhelmed by more advanced pitchers. After the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league season, Johnson got back on the field at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson is everything teams want behind the plate from a defensive standpoint. He's an excellent receiver and blocker, he runs a pitching staff expertly and his plus-plus arm shuts down running games. Johnson's ability to hit at the higher levels is questionable, at best. He is fair at managing the strike zone and he has some barrel control, but he struggles to read offspeed pitches and has a long swing that leads to lots of strikeouts. He doesn't impact the ball and thus has little projectable power.

THE FUTURE: Johnson's defense gives him an outside chance of reaching the majors as a backup, but his bat will have to make significant improvements for him to even reach that. He'll head back to the Class A level in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Alfonzo signed with the Tigers out of Venezuela in 2016 and has slowly made his way up the minor league ladder. After spending two seasons in Rookie ball, Alfonzo jumped to short-season Connecticut in 2019 and hit .318/.342/.374 with seven doubles and 24 RBIs. The Tigers brought him to instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alfonzo has a nice blend of skills, even if he lacks a plus tool. He has a short, compact swing geared for plenty of contact but not a lot of power. He has strong knowledge of the strike zone and doesn't strike out very often. Alfonzo moves well behind the plate and threw out 51% of basestealers with his above-average arm. He is also praised for his leadership qualities and work ethic.

THE FUTURE: Alfonzo's blend of decent offensive and defensive skills give him a chance to be a backup catcher. He'll move to full-season ball in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Perez was one of three players the Tigers received from the Astros in 2017 for Justin Verlander. The others--outfielder Daz Cameron and catcher Jake Rogers--have reached the big leagues. Perez, meanwhile, has thrown just 27 innings since the trade because of various injuries and has yet to pitch above high Class A. The Tigers brought him to the alternate training site in 2020 and continued to get him innings in instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Perez's pure stuff has never been in question, but he cannot stay healthy enough to show it to anyone. He's dealt with a lat strain and repeated shoulder injuries. At his best, Perez works with a mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s changeup and a downer curveball. He introduced a slider in 2017, as well, before being traded to Detroit. All his pitches with the exception of his slider have flashed plus, and he throws strikes with above-average control. Now he just needs to get on the mound and stay healthy.

THE FUTURE: Despite his injury history, Perez landed on the Tigers' 40-man roster after the 2019 season. If his health keeps him from starting, he has enough stuff to stick in a late-inning bullpen role.

TRACK RECORD: Drafted 30th overall by the Cubs in 2017, Lange was sent to the Tigers at the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return for Nick Castellanos. He made his Tigers organizational debut at Double-A Erie and pitched to a 3.45 ERA in nine starts, albeit with a concerning number of walks. He followed with a strong stint as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and was brought to the alternate training site in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Lange is a starter for now, but his max-effort delivery and below-average control have him ticketed for relief in the long term. His 90-93 mph fastball is a fringe-average pitch that lacks life, and his curveball is an average pitch. His curveball shows hard bite and can miss bats but doesn't quite project as better than average. Lange also has a slider, but it's not consistent enough to be much more than fringe-average.

THE FUTURE: Lange's fastball could tick up in relief, where his control would be less of an issue. That's his likely role in the majors and he should be in line to make his debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Tigers signed de la Cruz for $1.8 million, the largest bonus in their 2018 international class, then watched as he put together a stellar pro debut in the Dominican Summer League the following year. De la Cruz's 11 home runs placed him in a three-way tie for the DSL lead, and the Tigers brought him to the U.S. for instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: De la Cruz is an aggressive player in all facets of the game. He has plus bat speed, swings often and makes hard contact when he connects, though he also swings and misses quite a bit. He struck out 30% of the time in the DSL and will have to manage that moving forward. De la Cruz's plus speed and plus arm allow him to profile at any of the three outfield positions. He plays center field for now but may shift to right field as he gets bigger and stronger.

THE FUTURE: De la Cruz's future is tied to how much he can reduce his swings and misses. He'll start 2021 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.