The Detroit Tigers minor league system may be described as “depleted”, “empty” or a “barren”, but don’t tell these ten guys this. This is the cream of the crop throughout the Detroit organization, the infamous top prospects list that many players, fans and all types of writers live and die by.

Since hitting the internet in January of 2010, we have only been able to compose one top prospects list at season’s start. Here today I give you the second annual DTS Blog top prospects list heading into the 2011 MLB season.

Only three players remain from last year’s top ten; as five have lost “prospect” tags (in my opinion) and two have fallen lower than number ten.

Our 2010 list included (from 10-1): Casper Wells, Gustavo Nunez, Alex Avila, Andy Oliver, Ryan Strieby, Austin Jackson, Scott Sizemore, Brennan Boesch, Jacob Turner and Casey Crosby.

Five players losing “prospect” tags by playing in the Majors last season and making the big league club this year can only mean one thing. It means that the youth in the Tigers organization has come through in the clutch and have stepped up when their name was called.

I’d now like to introduce my top ten Detroit Tigers prospects to keep an eye on in 2011.

Please note that any player that made the list last year has their movement over the past year after their ranking and name. All others who have nothing are new to the top ten this season.

Also before reading, you may want to read our previous big prospect articles…
Top 10 Prospects to Watch for in 2010 (Published 4/1/10)
All-Minor-League Team: Fielding the Best 25 (Published 1/8/11)

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Ortega

10. Jose Ortega, RHP
22 years old – Baseball America #10 Tigers Prospect, Best Fastball

The 2010 season was an adventurous one for Jose Ortega, who finished the year with a 3.03 ERA in 68.1 innings of work. Ortega made his way from West Michigan to Lakeland and then onto Erie before the season came to an end.

It was obvious that Ortega was struggling with Low-A West Michigan, maybe some would even call it unlucky. The young right-hander pitched 25.2 innings and held a 4.56 ERA before being promoted to High-A Lakeland, the reason being his .338 BABIP against.

After becoming a member of the Flying Tigers, Ortega dropped his ERA to a 0.95 and upped his K/9 total from 7.71 to 9.47. He finished the season with the Seawolves only walking 2.66 hitters per nine inning, while he lowered his BABIP against to .282.

It seems adamant that Jose will get a shot in the big leagues soon.

TigsTown.com says about Ortega… “Having remained relatively under the radar for his first couple of years stateside, Jose Ortega made his presence known in 2010, pitching well across three levels and flashing his mid-90s fastball.”

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Ruffin

9. Chance Ruffin, RHP
22 years old – Baseball America #7 Tigers Prospect, Best Slider

Detroit selected Chance Ruffin in the compensatory round of the 2010 MLB amateur draft, largely impart to his phenomenal stats and work as a closer with the University of Texas. Through his junior season as a Longhorn, Ruffin was 24-6 with a 2.32 ERA and 19 saves, while holding opponents to a .176 batting average.

At the rookie ball level in 2010, Ruffin threw 9.1 innings, surrendering just four earned runs and allowing just a .130 BABIP against him.

With the three years of college ball under his belt, Chance may be more big league ready than most other pitchers on this list. His “out pitch” is no doubt his slider, which allowed him to strikeout eight batters and hold hitters to a .097 batting average in his short rookie ball stint.

TigsTown.com says about Ruffin… “Coming out of the University of Texas as a supplemental first round draft pick and the Longhorns’ closer, comparisons between Chance Ruffin and former UT star Huston Street immediately started. The comparison might be a stretch, but there’s plenty to be excited about with Ruffin.”

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Garcia

8. Avisail Garcia, OF
19 years old – Baseball America #9  Tigers Prospect

This may be the most excited I have ever been about a Tigers hitting prospect, and there is no reason not to be. How can you not love the sound of a 19-year-old with “burning speed” and Miguel Cabrera style “trimmed up physique”? Well that is exactly what Avisail Garcia is.

Sure his height and weight say 6’3″, 190 lbs, but Garcia has tree trunks for legs and large branches for arms.

You would think with his massive size he would be a home run hitter like Miggy, but Garcia actually has more of a stroke for the gaps. In 2010 he racked up 17 doubles and 63 RBIs in 125 games for the Whitecaps. What is also surprising is that large statured outfielder also swiped 20 bases.

FanGraphs gives him a 6.3 in speed score, which would rank him 3rd in the Major Leagues behind Ryan Ludwick and Matt Kemp, which is pretty decent company for the teenager.

I am beyond excited to Avisail mature through the minor leagues and get a big league shot in 2013 or 2014. With his dominant frame, it is certain he will make a living playing ball somewhere.

TigsTown.com says about Garcia… “Imagine Miguel Cabrera; now imagine him with burning speed and a trimmed up physique – that’s what you’ve got when you see Avisail Garcia. Can he translate that impressive athletic composition into becoming a top flight baseball player?”

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Martinez

7. Francisco Martinez, 3B
20 years old – Baseball America #4 Tigers Prospect

The Tigers second best third base prospect, Francisco Martinez struggled in his first season of professional ball in 2009. He hit under .200 and had a BABIP under .250 while playing for the Tigers rookie ball team and West Michigan.

Last season was a different story, Martinez hit .271 with Lakeland and held a .332 BABIP, while stealing 12 bases and driving in 29 runners.

Let’s not forget, his 2008 VSL Tigers Player of the Year award. That was necessary of mention.

Don’t be surprised if you hear Martinez’s name with the Toledo Mud Hens by seasons end, as it seems like he could land in the big leagues by 2013.

TigsTown.com says about Martinez… “True five-tool talent with tremendous raw ability and quickly advancing baseball instincts. Has potential to be a smooth defender with a cannon arm, as well as a premium offensive player with power, patience, and speed.”

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Smyly

6. Drew Smyly, LHP
22 years old – Baseball America #8 Tigers Prospect

Drew Smyly is not the typical Detroit Tigers draft pick, as the they like to select big frames with power arms. Smyly at 6’3″, 190 lbs and a fastball that reaches maybe 93 MPH on a good day, fits none of those previous characteristics.

The lefty spent his college ball days at the University of Arkansas, where he was the teams #1 starter as a sophomore before being drafted by the Tigers. He clinched a regional title for the Razerbacks on the mound, as he tossed 8.1 innings of no-hit ball and struck out 12 hitters.

Because of his great ability to throw strikes, and his always important delivery from the left side, Smyly could move through the Tigers minor league organization quickly. Remember his name, because he may get a spot start in the big leagues as soon as 2012.

TigsTown.com says about Smyly… “Drafted last summer in the second round, Drew Smyly comes to the Tigers as a classic left-hander and in his first off-season has placed himself squarely in the top ten. Find out what has everyone excited about what he brings to the table.”

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Crosby

5. Casey Crosby, RHP (Down 4 slots)
22 years old – Baseball America #6 Tigers Prospect

It was a long 2010 season for Casey Crosby.  After noticing swelling in his left elbow, Dr. James Andrews recommended Crosby get six-to-eight weeks of rest before throwing again. With that news, Detroit decided to shut him down for the season.

The news came as no surprise as Crosby’s stats weren’t characteristic of him; 8.76 ERA in 12.1 innings of work.

Many prospects lists have Crosby outside of the top ten, but I think that is purely ludicrous. You cannot deny his phenomenal 2009 season and his dominant repertoire. In that 2009 season, Crosby went 10-4 with a 2.41 ERA, while reaching 10.06 K/9 and allowing just a .190 batting average against him.

Crosby should be back this season with a vengeance, as he will likely start the 2011 season with Double-A Erie. If he progresses, I expect him to reach the Majors somewhere during the 2012 season.

TigsTown.com says about Crosby… “Taking the most notable dramatic fall of any prospect from 2010 to 2011, Casey Crosby still has a very impressive repertoire.”

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Fields

4. Daniel Fields, CF
20 years old – Baseball America #5 Tigers Prospect, Best Athlete

It’s pretty impressive when a 19-year-old can make it to High-A Lakeland, especially when he succeeds like Daniel Fields did in 2010. Sure, Fields hit just .240 in 438 plate appearances, but he hit 13 doubles, six triples, eight home runs and stole eight bases, quite the mixture of contact, power and speed.

Fields grew up in the Detroit area while his father played and coached for the Tigers, so this kid has the Old English ‘D’ in his blood.

Before the 2010 season, Fields switched from shortstop to centerfield and played the outfield like a seasoned-vet throughout the season. Fields made just one error in 224 chances in centerfield.

Baseball America has Fields being the starting right fielder come 2014, but I believe he could reach the Major Leagues by 2013.

TigsTown.com says about Fields… “At just 19, Daniel Fields was pushed all the way to High-A Lakeland out of need, expected to be a stopgap solution while a number of minor league outfielders got healthy. Instead, Fields more than held his own and remained with the club all year, immediately advancing his projection and prospect potential.”

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Castellanos

3. Nick Castellanos, 3B
19 years old – Baseball America #2 Tigers Prospect, Best Hitter for Average, Best Hitter for Power, Best Infield Arm

This teenager is thought very highly of in the Detroit organization, and that was made obvious with his $3.45M contract out of high school. Nick Castellanos was selected 44th overall in the 2010 MLB amateur draft and was ranked #65 in Baseball America’s top 100 prospects not too long ago.

Castellanos did not disappoint offensively in his seven rookie ball (Gulf Coast League) games. He hit .333 with two doubles and three RBIs, but he made two errors in six chances at third base.

He spent most of his high school career at shortstop, but was switched to third base upon being drafted because of his 6’4″, 195 lbs frame. The move really needs to no explanation, Castellanos was just too big to play shortstop in professional ball.

It’s no doubt that Castellanos is the third baseman of the future for the Tigers, and will likely follow Brandon Inge right into the starting job by 2013 or 2014.

TigsTown.com says about Castellanos… “With the Tigers first selection, 44th overall, they got a steal in top 10 talent Nick Castellanos. Castellanos, who likely fell due to signability concerns, has all the tools to be a top-flight big league third baseman.”

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Oliver

2. Andy Oliver, LHP (Up 5 slots)
23 years old – Baseball America #3 Tigers Prospect

Andy Oliver is the only player on this list that has played a game in the Majors. During the 2010 season, the Tigers called on Oliver, who was playing with Double-A Erie, to make a few starts in place of some injured starters.

Oliver wishes he could do that all over again. He went 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts with Detroit.

Let’s ignore those rookie mistakes and take a look at his minor league career. Oliver spent time with Erie and Toledo during the 2010 season, going 9-8 with a 3.45 ERA, averaging over eight strikeouts and three walks per nine innings.

He will start the 2011 season with the Toledo Mud Hens and will be the Tigers emergency sixth starter if they need a spot start.

TigsTown.com says about Oliver… “After seeing his draft stock fall in 2009 due performance and eligibility concerns, the Tigers promptly snatched him up in the second round and gave him a large signing bonus to join the organization.”

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Turner

1. Jacob Turner, RHP (Up 1 slot)
19 years old – Baseball America #1 Tigers Prospect, Best Changeup, Best Curveball

Jacob Turner has been ranked as the 21st best prospect and 15th best prospect by Baseball America and the MLB Network coming into this season, both as no surprise.

In his first professional season in 2010, Turner played with West Michigan and Lakeland, going 6-5 with a 3.28 ERA in 24 games. Still a teenager, Turner will start the 2011 season with the Double-A Erie Seawolves, and if he pitches well, will be with Triple-A Toledo by midseason.

At 6’5″, 210 lbs, Jacob Turner is the typical Detroit Tigers pitcher, a big frame with a big arm. Some say this youngster can light up the gun by hitting 98 MPH, but he is more consistent in the mid-90s. His secondary pitch is a curveball (high-70s), which has gotten tighter since his high school days.

With Turner likely reaching Toledo in 2011, don’t be surprised if he gets a spot start or two in the bigs by midseason. Do expect him to get the call to the Majors as a part of September call-ups near the end of the season, and possibly make the Tigers team out of Spring Training before 2012.

TigsTown.com says about Turner… “While the comparisons will heap a lot on youngster not even a year out of high school, Jacob Turner’s early returns are drawing comparisons to another first round selection out of high school; Rick Porcello. Is the comparison a fair one, and how fast could Turner move up the ladder?”

Just missed the cut: Rob Brantly, C; Adam Wilk, LHP; Charlie Furbush, LHP; Danry Vasquez, OF and Zach Simons, RHP.