Pitching prospects bring relief, but Tigers aren't worrying

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Young pitchers bring relief, but Tigers aren't worrying
Pitching prospects have been assigned roles as relievers for now, but might end up as starters.
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Anyone studying the Tigers' 2008 draft might have deduced Detroit was thin on minor-league pitching. Sleuths probably figured as much after six of the Tigers' first seven picks, and 13 of their top 18 draft selections, were pitchers.

And, in fact, that was Detroit's motivation after three big trades during the 2006 and '07 offseasons thinned Detroit's pitching prospects by eight.

The cream of the 2008 draft day crop is signed and has been stationed at various minor-league outposts, including No. 1 pick Ryan Perry of the University of Arizona, who could get some work at Class-A Lakeland before the end of this month.

Another reality of the arms Detroit plucked in the 2008 draft is the majority of them are -- for now -- relief pitchers.

Perry is a reliever, although the Tigers haven't completely abandoned thoughts about making him a starter.

Cody Satterwhite, their No. 2 pick out of Mississippi, is a right-handed reliever and has started smartly at Lakeland (two games, no runs, one save) after an early stint at Class-A Oneonta, where he wasn't scored on in three games.

Scott Green, another right-hander and Detroit's third-round choice out of Kentucky, has pitched in seven games at Class-A West Michigan and has done fine, although he hasn't yet recorded a decision: 2.25 ERA in seven appearances, with six strikeouts and one walk in eight innings.

Brett Jacobson, the Vanderbilt right-hander grabbed in the fourth round, is working out of the bullpen at West Michigan and has already appeared in nine games. He is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA.

Then you get to right-hander Tyler Stohr, Detroit's sixth-round pick out of North Florida, who had these digits at Oneonta through 11 games: nine saves, 16 strikeouts and five walks in 11 innings. He has a 2.45 ERA and no decisions.

Jade Todd, a left-hander and the only high school pitcher taken by Detroit in the early rounds (seventh), has started twice in six appearances and is 1-1 with a 3.52 for the Gulf Coast League Tigers, the usual stop for high school signees.

Right-hander Anthony Shawler (eighth-round, Old Dominion) is, yes, a reliever at Oneonta. He might be due for a promotion after his performance in 10 games: 2-2, 1.35 ERA, with 10 hits in 20 innings to go with 16 strikeouts.

Not to be forgotten is Robbie Weinhardt (10th round, Oklahoma State), a right-hander who has had one of the slickest summer debuts of any Tigers farmhand. Weinhardt hasn't been scored on in seven games at Lakeland. He has allowed one hit in 11 1/3 innings, with 16 strikeouts and zero walks.

"The biggest thing I like about him is that once he got over here from GCL (Lakeland rookie team), he was feeling very comfortable," said Glenn Ezell, the Tigers director of player development. "From all indications, this guy likes to be out there.

"Tyler Stohr, I was talking with Ryan Newman (Oneonta manager) today and he said whenever Stohr's got a save situation, he dials it up a bit. He picks up the pace. It looks like a spot he could be pretty effective."

Not everyone will be pitching relief, Ezell implied, although eventual long-term roles are, in many cases, not close to being resolved. Tigers roving pitching instructor Jon Matlack will be involved in strategies there, along with the Tigers front office and the minor-league staffs.

"We get suggestions and they are very strong suggestions (from coaches and managers)," Ezell said, "and I think the players, as they get deeper into pro ball, are going to tell us what's going to be their best role.

"What we have learned from our draft department and scouting department is that some of these guys have been better in relief roles than in starting roles. But I also think innings create experience, which creates guys getting better. This is one of the first times I've been involved in a draft where there were a lot of relievers in the (early) rounds. I don't have a problem with that. I was pleased with this draft. We can figure out what's going to happen down the road."

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