On Wednesday, we kicked off our first-ever Detroit Tigers Minor League Player of the Year as we handed our first award to Colt Keith, who put up one of the best Tigers minor league seasons over the last 50 years. Keith is just the second Detroit Tigers minor leaguer in the last 50 years with a .300+ batting average, 25+ home runs, and 100+ RBIs in the same season (Gabe Kapler, 1998).
However, when it came to the starting pitching, this decision was a tough one. While Jackson Jobe clinched the title of Pitcher of the Year, several other pitchers also delivered powerful performances throughout the season. The voting was close in our group.
The candidates
RHP-Keider Montero led the entire organization with 160 strikeouts in 127 innings of work between three levels this season. While some may look at the ERA as a deciding factor on why he did not win the award, he started to adjust to Triple-A in September. He went 3-1 to end the season and allowed just two walks over his last 11 innings of work.
When I had a chance to speak to Montero earlier this season, his story was similar to Gipson-Long’s in which he was working on changing the grip of his pitches for better results and it showed.
Keider Montero finished the season on a high note after his start against St. Paul.
5IP 2ER 1BB 4SO. Over his last two starts, just two walks over 11 IP of work, holding batters to a .179 BA in Sept.
He took a big step forward in 2023. (This K was against Columbus) 👀 pic.twitter.com/EMgSVqjijF
— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) September 24, 2023
He logged the most innings of his professional career and has given Detroit another starter or even reliever to think about to add to the 40-man roster. He is Rule-5 eligible this winter.
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long:
The story of Gipson-Long of being the player who came over from the Twins in the Michael Fulmer to being the biggest surprises in the Tigers organization is one of hard work and adaptation. He has the most strikeouts by any Detroit Tigers pitcher in their first four starts in team history. The K per 9 jumped from 8.83 to 10.52 at Erie to almost 13 per 9 at Toledo (12.98). He, like Reese Olson, pitched beyond their stats you see in the box score with the Mud Hens.
His changeup was featured on Pitching Ninja. That’s how good he was. He is an early favorite to join the Tigers rotation in 2024.
Sawyer Gipson-Long, Filthy Changeups. 👌 pic.twitter.com/xVwK8IzQgE
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 23, 2023
LHP Brant Hurter:
Hurter got a first place vote from Chris Brown, as Chris discussed in the podcast, he was absolutely dominant in the postseason for Erie. He allowed just five hits over his 13 scoreless innings of work over two starts, including striking out seven in the clincher over Binghamton. He was the workhorse of the SeaWolves rotation, as he and Ty Madden both pitched 118 innings each, and both were impressive the last month of the season. Hurter led the organization with a 2.91 and like Gipson-Long and Montero, when we talked to him, the organization had him working on his change, which help set up his fastball and slider much better this season.
Brant will more than likely start the season in Toledo, should the Tigers not decide to move him for a bat. He has earned himself a spot on the prospect radar with his 2023 performance.
The reason Jackson Jobe won the award. He leveled up to another atmosphere.
After Jobe came back from a back injury, he came back like Arnold Schwarzenegger when anyone does him wrong in any of his 80s movies, with a vengeance. Jobe spoke to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball.com and gave his insights on what improvements he made.
“I had a lot of time during my build up…throwing bullpens, throwing lives, being able to dive into my mechanics and being able to figure what’s happening with my misses. I really dove into all that stuff,Honestly, [the injury] was a blessing and a curse. I missed some time, but I learned so much about myself as a pitcher that I am going to take with me the rest of my career.”
The command of the strike zone was apparent right away. He walked just three in his first 18 innings of work. Then in his final 28 innings of work, which was 109 batters faced, including a start in Erie, he issued no free passes. He walked just six in 64 innings of work while striking out 84. He threw strikes at a 70% clip.
For those armchair managers who raised an eyebrow when Detroit drafted a fresh-out-of-high-school player, especially with another positional player setting fields on fire elsewhere, it’s time to eat a bit of humble pie. Jackson Jobe didn’t just hush the doubters — he’s gearing up to possibly take a spot in Detroit’s 2024 rotation.
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Chris Brown