Six weeks into the season and the shuttle between AAA Toledo and the Detroit Tigers has been busy. Overall, the Mudhens have had a good start to the year currently sitting second in the International League West division with a record of 24-18. Now is a good time to do a prospect check and see how the next wave of talent is fairing.
Jace Jung:
Jung is the highest rated Tigers prospect at Toledo and has lived up to that status. He is slashing a healthy .272/.383/.515 for an OPS of .898. Jung has also managed to hit 18 extra base hits while managing a respectable strike out rate of 27.6% while also walking 16% of his plate appearances. The question will continue to be where Jung will play when he gets to Detroit. His defense has been a little bit of a mixed bag and most scouts still project him as a below average defender. Jung hasn’t gotten the call to the Big Leagues in large part because the defense still needs refinement.
Justice Bigbie:
After hitting a combined .343 with 45 extra base hits in 2023, big things were expected of Bigbie in 2024. Another rate round gem, 19th round, Bigbie has struggled so far to replicate his success for last season. On the year Bigbie is hitting .239/.327/.348 for an OPS of .675. Most alarming is the only one homerun he has hit this season, after hitting 19 in 2023. Defensively he continues to be a work in progress, Bigbie has below average speed and arm strength, so his bat will be his carrying tool.
Justyn-Henry Malloy:
JHM came into spring training with a reputation of being an advance hitter with an excellent eye at the plate. He also had a chance to make the Tigers roster out of spring training, which of course didn’t happen. So far its been more of the same offensively, JHM is slashing .272/.425/.456 for an OPS of .881. The home run power hasn’t been there so far in 2024, but the real adjustment for Malloy is getting his defense to a place where the Tigers feel he is ready to handle both sides of the game.
Akil Baddoo:
Baddoo end up losing out on the extra OF battle in Spring Training, but all he has done is go and continue to play well slashing .258/.366/.492 for an OPS of .858 showing the power and speed combo (14 XB hits and 11 steals) the Tigers believe Baddoo can provide. Baddoo plays solid defense at all three outfield positions and is just an injury away from being back in Detroit.
Dillon Dingler:
Defensively, Dingler continues to impress defensively. Offensively, he has cut his strike out rate, but the bat continues to perform below average. He is leaning towards a defensive back up catcher, he is in line to get an opportunity at the major league level if there is an injury to Jake Rodgers or Carson Kelley.
Eddys Leonard/Ryan Kreidler:
Both Leonard and Kreidler can play multiple positions, and both have spent to much time on the IL this season, play just eight and four games respectively. Kreidler is a plus defender but hasn’t been able to stay healthy enough to allow his bat to develop. Leonard is more advanced offensively than defensively at this point and may ultimately be pushed off of short, the Tigers have moved him around since they acquired him to help create some versatility.
