Minor league report - Many prospects living up to ranking

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Minor league report
Many prospects living up to ranking
Even a handful of The News' preseason top 20 have found their way to the big leagues.
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Attempting to put some order into the disordered world of evaluating prospects, The Detroit News published in January a list of Top 20 Tigers prospects, as well as a 10-person "Best of the Rest" roster.

Things have changed, naturally, mostly because of injury. But the cast essentially is intact, and still somewhat in sync with respect to various players and their arrival in the big leagues. In a few noteworthy cases, tickets to Detroit already have been issued in 2008.

A look at how January's pecking order was presented and how it shapes up now, nearly six months later:

1. Rick Porcello, RHP, age 19, Class A Lakeland: Still the premier pitching talent in the Tigers' farm system, Porcello has had his expected hassles adjusting to a long season, but his 2.96 ERA (he has a 3-6 record in 14 starts spanning 73 innings) is the best indicator that a man still in his teens is on schedule..

2. Cale Iorg, SS, 22, Lakeland: Given that he has returned from a two-year Mormon mission in Europe, Iorg's first full season in the minors has been reassuring: .266 and eight home runs in the Florida State League -- known for its big ballparks -- and a .336 on-base percentage.

3. Casey Crosby, LHP, 19: Last autumn's Tommy John surgery hasn't dissuaded anyone. Crosby is a few years away, but his talent is sky-high.

4. Jeff Larish, 1B, 25, Tigers: No surprises. Larish was called up in May and is going to make some big league team a fine, power-hitting first baseman. A position change is not out of the question with Miguel Cabrera planted at first.

5. Matt Joyce, RF, 23, Triple-A Toledo: A big 2007 season put him in the mix, which ended up being a roster spot with the Tigers early this season. He hit five quick home runs, but off-speed challenges sent him back to the minor leagues.

6. Danny Worth, SS, 22, Double-A Erie: Worth has jumped in one year from Pepperdine University to Double A. He is hitting a semi-respectable .248 and could yet end up as Edgar Renteria's successor.

7. Scott Sizemore, 2B, 23, Lakeland: It's been a solid season for Sizemore (.286, four home runs, .365 on-base percentage), who needs to show no later than next year at Double A that he's on pace to conceivably be Placido Polanco's stand-in at second base.

8. Michael Hollimon, SS, 26, Tigers: He got his call-up after Ramon Santiago separated his shoulder. He needs to develop as a hitter to become more than a utility infielder.

9. Jeff Gerbe, RHP, 23: Gerbe, a Shelby Township native and one-time pitcher for Michigan State, was on his way in 2008 until shoulder surgery knocked him out for the season.

10. Clete Thomas, OF, 24, Tigers: He made the team out of spring training and is on the Tigers' active roster today.

11. Tony Giarratano, SS, 25: Too many injuries and surgeries finally caught up to a once-sparkling prospect, who was released this spring.

12. Brent Dlugach, SS, 24: Still battling shoulder injuries, Dlugach, a splendid fielder, has yet to play in 2008.

13. Brent Clevlen, OF, 24, Toledo: It was getting late in the game for Clevlen, who had a bang-up spring at Toledo before being called up earlier this month. He has immense talent that might finally be coming to a boil.

14. Wilkin Ramirez, OF, 22, Erie: Ripping up Double-A pitching led to a promotion to Toledo, where he had a rough adjustment. He's back with the Double-A SeaWolves, which isn't a bad place for a gifted young player.

15. Joe Bowen, C, 20, Class A West Michigan: Elbow problems have cost him most of the season. Still, he's a solid prospect in an organization in need of catching.

16. Devin Thomas, C, 23, Lakeland: He's just getting back into the picture after injuries knocked him out.

17. Audy Ciriaco, SS, 21, West Michigan: This is one to keep an eye on. Ciriaco has splendid talent but needs to be more selective at the plate.

18. Preston Larrison, RHP, 27, Toledo: Never say never. Because his sinker is a pitch big league managers love, Larrison still has a shot to make it. But it's getting late in the game.

19. Freddy Dolsi, RHP, 25, Tigers: Dolsi arrived with a big 2007 season at Lakeland and never stopped. He was called up early this spring and remains an important pitcher in Jim Leyland's back-of-the-bullpen corps.

20. Guillermo Moscoso, RHP, 24, Lakeland: He has 28 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings for the Flying Tigers, which explains why the Tigers like him a lot.

Best of the rest updates

• RHP Duane Below is 4-4 with a 3.46 ERA at Lakeland.

• OF Brennan Boesch , after a terrible start, has been finding his way at Lakeland.

• LHP Charlie Furbush is out for the year because of Tommy John surgery.

• RHP Brandon Hamilton , a supplemental-round pick (between the first and second rounds) in 2007, only is 19 and showing a powerful -- and definitely wild -- repertoire at West Michigan.

• RHP Jonah Nickerson has had one of the best seasons of any Tigers farmhand at Lakeland.

You can reach Lynn Henning at lynn.henning@detnews.com

What about Dontrelle?

lol
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971