Detroit Tigers Rule 5 Draft Preview – Part One

The Detroit Tigers have important moves to make.

The introductory press conference for Detroit Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris was understandably light on specifics. Baseball front office types don’t make a habit of disclosing their plans. So apart from some admittedly encouraging quotes about dominating the strike zone, fans are left to speculate about the decisions Harris’ front office will make when it comes to contract negotiations, free agency, on-field staffing, or trade targets.

But, we know one thing for sure. Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings will take place this December, and that means the Rule 5 Draft will return. Last year’s Major League Rule 5 Draft draft was canceled due to the lockout, but this year teams will once again scour their competitors’ minor-league systems for potential diamonds in the rough. If you’re unfamiliar with the Rule 5 Draft, or simply want a refresher, MLB has an official description for you right here.

Below you’ll find a selection of Detroit Tigers minor leaguers who are currently eligible to be selected in this year’s Rule 5 Draft, followed by our best guesses on who will be added to Detroit’s 40-man roster prior to the draft. This list isn’t meant to be an exhaustive accounting of every available player, but we want to include as many relevant players as possible.

Catchers

Adds: None

It would be a huge shock if the Detroit Tigers protected any of these players. Alfonzo is a switch hitter with interesting bat-to-ball skills, but his defense is a work in progress, his power projection is limited, and he dealt with multiple injuries this year. De La Cruz raised eyebrows by leading the Florida Complex League with a .975 OPS in 2021, but his OPS plummeted and his strikeout rate rose from 23% to 38% this year. The Tigers traded for Garcia in May, and Valencia has shown intriguing power at times, but both figure to be a low-minors organizational players.

https://twitter.com/tigersMLreport/status/1560776963442212864?s=20&t=17UUyV5e4QvYVlsuYxBMPw

Infielders

Adds: Two

Andre Lipcius – There are limitations to Lipcius’ game — he’s not a particularly explosive athlete and he lacks the range to play shortstop at the MLB level — but he has a lot of the skills A.J. Hinch and Scott Harris seem to like. He’s a patient hitter with good contact skills and sneaky power, a heady baserunner, and a reliable defender. There might not be enough pop to profile as a regular, but the Cardinals have been turning guys like Lipcius into 4-WAR players for decades.

Wenceel Perez – An unfortunate back injury ended his season prematurely, but in 94 games Perez put up numbers like a top-100 prospect: .295/.369/.534 with 47 extra-base hits (14 HR) and 18 stolen bases in 23 tries. Perez’s defense is his biggest weakness now, as he can’t really handle the left side of the infield, and his hands and throwing accuracy are sometimes suspect at second base. But he’s a switch hitter with good bat-to-ball skills, solid patience, plus speed, and a power breakout that is backed by the numbers. He has gone from an afterthought to a must add.

Jake Holton is an on-base specialist who was a huge contributor for the West Michigan Whitecaps this year, but he hasn’t produced above A-Ball yet, and his fringe-average power doesn’t fit the classic profile of a first-base/corner outfielder.

Corey Joyce is an interesting under-the-radar player in the system. His swing path is a bit too steep for him to hit for average, but it leads to solid power production (.186 ISO). He walked in nearly 16% of his plate appearances, and he’s a viable defender in the middle infield. He probably won’t be taken in the Rule 5 draft, but he might be the kind of player who raises Scott Harris’ eyebrows.

Andrew Navigato is an infielder by trade, but he has played nearly 40 games in the outfield over the past two seasons. He also hit 18 home runs and stole 15 bases this year, while maintaining an above-average strikeout rate. Navigato lacks standout tools, but his versatility and skills make him a valuable minor leaguer,

John Valente just hits. He batted .352 in college, and .352 in summer ball, and he’s a career .309 hitter in the minors. There’s not much in the way of power here, but he has experience playing every position on the diamond but catcher, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get a cup of coffee in the big leagues one day.

Erie was down to their last strike, but Wenceel Perez changed that with this bomb to right field. It’s his 3rd home run with Erie, and his 12th overall on the season. pic.twitter.com/E9g2MM0izP

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 23, 2022

Check back tomorrow for our look at outfielders and pitchers who may be added.