The Tigers have already needed to use their “sixth” starter a fair amount, Manning who lost the spring training battle for a rotation spot to Casey Mize and Reese Olson has more MLB innings (22.2) to AAA innings (19). With both Kenta Maeda and Shelby Miller on the IL now, Manning and Beau Briske will be spending even more time on the MLB roster. Let’s take a look at how the Tigers top pitching prospects are fairing at AAA.
Mason Englert:
After starting his career as a starter Englert transitioned to long relief as a rule 5 pick in 2023. So far in 2024 he has continued to work out of the bullpen with a high success rate. On the year Englert has posted a 2.45 ERA across 22 innings in 16 games. He has improved his strikeout rate, 13.50 K/9 with a reasonable walk rate of 3.27.
Wilmer Flores:
After a strong 2022 season, Flores took a step back in 2023 and is still looking to regain the command and feel that vaulted him up prospect rankings. Flores has spent 2024 coming out of the bullpen and the results haven’t been what he or the Tigers would like to see. Currently Flores is on the IL, he has identical strikeout and walk rates in 22.1 innings of work. When Flores comes off the IL he will need better command and control of his arsenal to reestablish himself as one of the Tigers better pitching prospects.
Brant Huerter:
A seventh-round pick in 2021 Huerter is a lefty who has steadily climbed the organizational ladder. He has been a little more hittable and given up home runs and almost double his previous rate in 2024, but it is still early in the season and his FIP of 3.75 is better than the 4.50 ERA he is sporting. Huerter is a back of the rotation starter who should be able to eat innings and provide the team a chance to win during his turn in the rotation.
Ty Madden:
After a strong start to the season in AA, Madden has had a rude welcome to AAA and the automated balls strike system. While his K/9 rate has stayed consistent, his walk rate has jump from 1.53 in AA to 6.00 in AAA. Now that is a major small sample warning. Madden has only made three starts spanning 12 innings at AAA, the walk rate will come down along with the ERA, but it is a good reminder that baseball is hard and development is not linier.
Keider Montero:
Montero has been in the Tigers system since signing as a sixteen-year-old out of Venezuela. His development path has been a little inconsistent and it is still possible that the Tigers decide to move him to the bullpen, but when he is on, he is one of the best arms in the Tigers minor league system. On the season he is featuring a K/9 rate of 10.25 with a BB/9 rate of 4.78. Montero needs to bring the walk rate down, but he is close to making his Big-League debut.
