http://www.sportsblurb.com/farm8.htm The Detroit Tigers More than anything else during the Randy Smith years in Detroit, the farm system really took a hit. Several prospects during those years did not pan out, so President and GM Dave Dombrowski was left with a huge void. Gradually, this system is continuing to improve. While there is still only one upper echelon prospect, they look like they have a lot more potential major league players than two years ago. 1. Tony Giarratano, SS: A third round pick in 2003, Giarratano has emerged as one of the top shortstop prospects in the game. He is a prototypical shortstop with good contact ability, good speed and great defense. He hit above .370 in over 200 at-bats in High-A last season at the age of 21 after hitting .285 in Low-A during the first half of the season. With 25 steals last season, he has some very nice potential for fantasy owners as well. The Tulane alum could move quickly up the system and has the polish to help in the majors immediately upon his arrival. ETA: 2006 2. Curtis Granderson, OF: The third round is turning into a very profitable place for the Tigers. Drafted in the third round in 2002, Granderson hit .303-21-93 with a much improved an 80/95 BB/K ratio and 14 steals last season in Double-A at the age of 23. The Tigers could give him a chance to win an outfield corner spot in 2005 if they do not sign any outfield free agents, so this is a dark horse Rookie of the Year candidate with the ability to have a solid major league career. ETA: 2005 3. Joel Zumaya, SP: Zumaya has a nasty fastball/slider combination, but injuries and control woes have prevented him from looking like an ace in the minors. After dominating in Low-A during 2003 at the age of 18, Zumaya really struggled in High-A and Double-A last season. However, with his high strikeout rate and two major league pitches he continues to show plenty of promise. ETA: 2006 4. Justin Verlander, SP: The Tigers signed Verlander, their 2004 first round pick, to a major league contract recently. The former Old Dominion pitcher can reach the high-90s in velocity and posted some outstanding strikeout rates in college. The Tigers should start him in Low-A next season and hope that he moves more smoothly than 2003 top pick Kyle Sleeth. ETA: 2007 5. Kyle Sleeth, SP: It was a good first pro year for the third overall pick in the 2003 draft until he arrived to Double-A. There, his control was more lacking. Sleeth's stuff does not turn heads, but he has a wide repertoire and usually controls his pitches well. A 6.30 ERA in Double-A simply will not cut it for Sleeth as he looks to move up, so 2005 could be a make or break year for him. ETA: 2006 6. Ryan Raburn, 2B: The Tigers have shifted Raburn from third base to second base with excellent results. The 23-year-old hit .301-16-63 in Double-A last season, thus solidifying himself on the prospect map. Lack of contact had been a problem for him previously, but he now looks like a potential Jeff Kent type of player. ETA: 2006 7. Eulogio de la Cruz, RP: De la Cruz is your typical closing prospect, but being able to throw in the upper-80s at the age of 20 and under six feet tall makes him seem impressive. Like most young prospects that throw as hard as he does, control is a serious problem with 33 walks in 54 innings pitched in Low-A last season. The good news is that de la Cruz still has time to improve and is coming in under for the radar for the Tigers. ETA: 2006 8. Juan Tejeda, 1B: If Tejeda's power stands the test of time, he could end up starting in the majors. The 22-year-old hit .289-23-92 in Double-A last season, showing his first burst of power. Previously he had been a high batting average hitter with average plate discipline. Most scouts do not think he has enough power to continue his climb toward the majors, so 2005 is a huge year in Triple-A for him to prove the naysayers wrong. ETA: 2006 9. David Espinosa, OF: A former shortstop prospect and first round pick in Cincinnati, Espinosa did not have the defense to stick it out at that position. After he was shifted to the outfield by Detroit, he began to hit much more. At age 22 last season, he hit .264-19-52 with 20 steals and 80 walks. Strikeouts are a problem for him and could prevent any possibility of posting a high enough batting average to start in an outfield corner, but it is way too soon to count him out as a prospect just yet following his statistical breakout. ETA: 2006 10. Jay Sborz, SP: A second round pick out of high school in 2003, Sborz is a starter with closer potential due to a mid-90s fastball. He struggled in the Rookie League last season due to 44 walks in just 60.1 innings pitched, so the challenge will be gaining enough control to move up the minor league ranks and into the majors. But if he does develop that control, he has loads of potential. ETA: 2007 --

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