The Detroit Tigers Minor League Report podcast offers a weekly recap of developments in both the Major League team and its minor league affiliates. While we strive to cover everyone in the Tigers system, we’ve recently received questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) about other players.
In response, we’re expanding our coverage. Starting now and continuing through the end of the season and into 2025, we will introduce a weekly mailbag segment to provide updates and insights on various players across the entire Tigers organization. While the timing may not the right time as the season is coming to close, we wanted to at least start the process.
INF John Peck: West Michigan Whitecaps
Peck was called up to High-A West Michigan back on August 16. The right-handed infielder, who was drafted in the 7th round out of Pepperdine in 2023, has seen time at second and third in addition to his national position, shortstop. He has shown the range to play the left side of the infield well enough, with just one error in 108.1 innings at third in Lakeland.
Peck has grown into a utility player for the Tigers and is off to a good start at West Michigan. This week against Dayton, he had three mulit-hit games in a row, which included his first home run at High-A, driving in four.
John Peck with a 2-run blast to right center to put the Whitecaps on top. It’s his first in High-A. pic.twitter.com/Jf2nbJVpYO
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) August 29, 2024
Since July 14, he has hit .320/.407/.500 with an OPS of .907. Peck by the way, was coached by former Detroit Tigers infielder Danny Worth at Pepperdine.
OF Nomar Fana: Lakeland Flying Tigers
Fana was one of the main offensive catalysts for the FCL Tigers alongside Franyerber Montilla and both were called up to Lakeland at the beginning of August. While Montilla may be off to a slow start, Fana has shown good patience at the plate and starting to hit during the series against Dundein. He hit 10 home runs in 53 games in the FCL with a wRC+ of 156 and was named to the FCL All-Star team.
Nomar Fana gets the 3-0 green light and doesn’t miss, crushing a 3-run blast 407 feet to put the Flying Tigers up 6-1. It’s his 2nd home run with Lakeland, and his 12th overall this year. pic.twitter.com/MQHxrQn7h1
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) August 31, 2024
LHP Gabriel Reyes: Lakeland Flying Tigers
Reyes has been one of the most consistent starters when it comes to strikeouts for the Flying Tigers. The lefty throws primarily a four-seam fastball, slider and Baseball Savant considers a sinker but could be a cutter. The fastball tops out at 94 but throws it well on the top of the zone to pair that with a slider that generate a good amount of swing and misses, which results in a K per 9 of 12.12. His ERA of 4.04 does not paint a picture, as his FIP is 3.20.
Reyes could end up being a reliever in the future, but he has put up impressive numbers in his first full season at Single-A Lakeland.
Gabriel Reyes has been having solid night down in Lakeland: 5IP 2H 1ER 1BB 9K pic.twitter.com/QN69pSVM6s
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) August 28, 2024
RHP Carlos Marcano: West Michigan Whitecaps
Signed in the winter of 2021, Marcano has been growing as a starter in his first full season at High-A. He struck out nine in one of the best starts on August 11 against High-A Beloit, allowing just one run on three hits. Marcano has held hitters to just a .232 batting average this month. In order to get to the next level, Marcano will need to work on getting lefties, which him at a .306 clip. Still, with a system that lacks depth in the lower levels currently, he has been one of the more steadier pitchers over the last month.
Gabriel Reyes has been having solid night down in Lakeland: 5IP 2H 1ER 1BB 9K pic.twitter.com/QN69pSVM6s
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) August 28, 2024
RHP Garrett Burhenn: Erie SeaWolves
Burhenn got out of the gate quickly at West Michigan, striking out 32 in 28 innings of work in seven starts before he got the call-up to Erie. Since June 14, he has allowed 3 runs or less over his last 11 starts. During that time span, he one-hit Harrisburg over six innings of work, striking out 11. Burhenn throws a fastball, slider and, as Chris discussed before, an above average change-up. He leads the organization in innings pitched at 113.
Dominant performance by Garrett Burhenn last night 🏄♂️🌊
6 IP, 1 H, 11 K 😤#fullrepsfamily🌊 pic.twitter.com/Krd3crCf4V
— FullReps Training Center (@FullRepsTC) June 27, 2024
There will five more players featured in the next few days who are not on our top 31 list, so be on the lookout for that.
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Chris Brown