Last April, I wrote an article titled “5 Prospects That Can SOAR Through the System in 2024.” Now, nearly a full year later, it’s time to look back and see how those picks turned out—and give you five fresh names to watch in 2025.
First things first, it’s time to review the 5 prospects last year that were listed in the article to see what they accomplished last season.
Josue Briceno, West Michigan Whitecaps – The first player listed, Briceno did not disappoint in the slightest. As a matter of fact, he exceeded expectations and created a name for himself as a top prospect in the organization. Briceno didn’t even crack our Top 30 Prospect List in August of 2023 but placed himself at number 8 a year later and currently sits at the number 5 spot.
He played in only 40 games in Lakeland last season due to missing 3 months of the season with a PCL sprain. In Lakeland he only hit two home runs but had a triple slash of .278/.381/.378. Despite what seem like low numbers, Briceno lit up the exit velocity charts during his limited time down in Florida.
The big eye opener for the 20 year old out of Venezuela were his numbers in the Arizona Fall League. Briceno hit 10 home runs in 25 games putting together a triple slash of .433/.509/.867. He took home the league’s MVP award, which has been won by several notable MLB players like Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant, Ronald Acuna Jr., and current Detroit Tiger, Gleyber Torres.
Briceno became the first player in the Arizona Fall League’s history to win the Triple Crown, the prestigious award won at the Major League level by Miguel Cabrera, like Briceno, reigns from Maracay, Venezuela. One question that continuously arises is what is his future position?
Although a catcher at the moment, Briceno has seen a lot of innings at 1st base due to his below average catching attributes. He only played 16 games at catcher in Lakeland, equal to the amount of games he played at first base. Briceno also did not catch a single game for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. Although his fielding abilities cause concern, his bat by itself plays.
Josue Briceño works a 9-pitch at-bat and then blasts his 10th Arizona Fall League homer. He’s just the 9th player to reach double-digits in homers in the AFL since 1999. And hey! @ThatDanHasty on the call! pic.twitter.com/UZ0ETR189C
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) November 13, 2024
Troy Melton, Erie Seawolves – Although his ERA nearly doubled from 2023, Melton continuously proved himself as a legit pitching prospect. In 23 starts for the Erie Seawolves last season, the right hander out of San Diego State struck out 27.6% of all batters faced while walking 7% of batters he faced. Although his ERA was an unpretty 5.10, his FIP (fielding independent pitching) was a 4.42 and his xFIP (expected FIP) was a spectacular 3.14 suggesting that Melton may have been a little unlucky on the mound.
He throws a hard upper 90s fastball that lights up radar guns and a sweeping slider along with an above average changeup. Despite being blocked by lots of pitching talent and great amounts of depth within the Tigers organization, the 24 year old has a solid chance to make his way to the big leagues this season.
Cristian Santana, Lakeland Flying Tigers – Although only 21 years old, Cristian Santana has been a let down as a prospect. After a strong 2021 season in the Dominican Summer League at just 17 years old, Santana has had struggles hitting his way out of Lakeland. He has declined gradually year by year for the Flying Tigers. He shows off raw power and elite plate discipline but struggles with strikeouts.
In 455 at bats down in Lakeland in the 2023 and 2024 season, Santana has hit .154 which just isn’t going to fly in the lowest level full season league in the minors. The 3rd baseman is going to enter his 4th season playing in Lakeland with tons of questions yet to be answered
Jaden Hamm, Erie Seawolves – The 22 year old was drafted out of Middle Tennessee State in the 5th round of the 2023 draft. Hamm only pitched a mere 150 innings in college but certainly got the attention of the Tigers front office despite having a 4.56 at MTSU. He pitched 99 innings in West Michigan last year while holding teams to a 2.64 ERA. The right hander struck out 30.6% of all batters he faced. Although he only pitched in one minor league level last year, Hamm certainly was no slouch and rose up the prospect charts quickly in only one year of play. He currently ranks #10 on our current prospect rankings after not even cracking the top 30 in August of 2023. Hamm was recognized for his success by being named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Year and was our 2024 pitcher of the year as well.
Here’s Jaden Hamm’s full outing from the 2025 Spring Breakout game. pic.twitter.com/xEHYSysO5y
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) March 17, 2025
Kevin McGonigle, West Michigan Whitecaps – Although not a bold prediction to soar through the system, McGonigle made his name well known to not just Tigers fans, but baseball fans all over the country. The middle infielder played 60 games in Lakeland, accumulating a triple slash of .326/.407/.470 before being called up to West Michigan with top prospect counterpart, Max Clark. After 14 games with the Whitecaps, the 20 year old his wrist ultimately ending his season. McGonigle currently slots in as our second ranked prospect and has been a consensus Top 30 prospect across all major league baseball among many Top 100 lists.
Kevin McGonigle crushes a solo homer off Aaron Nola. Left his bat at 111.3 MPH and went 406 feet. pic.twitter.com/Nv8ceNfOeH
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) March 23, 2025
Recap – Out of 5 prospect predictions, 4 of them had successful seasons with 3 of them having overwhelmingly great seasons. Cristian Santana once again struggled while Troy Melton didn’t put up the best numbers, but was able to show he has the pitch mix to compete at a high level. Josue Briceno and Jaden Hamm weren’t popular prospects before the 2024 season but have caught the eye of many minor league baseball fans. Kevin McGonigle entered the year with the highest of expectations and met them. Overall, this list was a success.
This Seasons Picks (2025)
Onto the 2025 season, all four Tigers full season minor league affiliates are off and running. The Toledo Mud Hens started their season at the end of March while the Erie Seawolves, West Michigan Whitecaps, and Lakeland Flying Tigers all played their first games on April 4th. The FCL Tigers begin their season on May 3rd and will feature many promising younger prospects with some listed below.
Jose Dickson, DSL Tigers 1 – The first player on the list of players who can soar through the system this year. Only 18 years old, the shortstop out of the Dominican Republic signed with the Tigers last January as an international free agent for $397,500. Dickson is 6’2 and only 158 pounds which he will certainly grow into as he gets older. He played 44 games for the Dominican Summer League Tigers and slashed .273/.407/.374 in 172 plate appearances while accumulating 18 stolen bases.
Dickson’s wRC+ was 122, making his bat 22% better than league average in the DOSL. Although his power numbers were weak, they should grow as he continues to grow into his body. Dickson currently sits as our #29 prospect and has an opportunity to jump up the leaderboard with a strong showing in his early professional career.
Gabriel Reyes, FCL Tigers – Another player from the Dominican Republic, Gabriel Reyes caught some eyes last year in 65.2 innings of work between the Florida Complex League and Lakeland. 47.2 of those innings came from his time in the Florida State League with the Flying Tigers. A Tommy John recipient, Reyes missed all of 2023 due to the elbow surgery but bounced back last year and has all the potential to double down on last year’s performance.
A standout in Lakeland last season, the crafty southpaw had a 3.97 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched and 64 strikeouts. He throws a low 90s fastball that does nothing more than set the base of the at bat, a sweeping slider that has amazing command in the strike zone and can buckle a right hander if buried properly. Reyes also features a changeup that serves as a great antagonist to his fastball and slider. The 21 year old currently sits at #26 on our prospect listing and can work his way up to a a top 15 spot at the end of the season if all goes well.
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
Carson Rucker, Lakeland Flying Tigers – A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Rucker was drafted out of high school in the 4th round of the 2023 MLB draft. Carson Rucker amassed a $722,500 signing bonus to be swayed away from his commitment to the baseball powerhouse at the University of Tennessee. The 20 year old has played both third base and shortstop in his minimal minor league experience but will be slated at the hot corner for the most of the foreseeable future.
Rucker has played 13 games total in the Florida Complex League over two seasons, only playing 4 games in 2024 due to tearing his labrum in May effectively ending his season. Although only having played a limited amount of time professionally, Rucker has a strong, powerful uppercut which helps with his lengthy build. Rucker has the chance to show off home run potential this year and build on it in the following seasons. The third baseman currently ranks at #19 on our prospect list and can make himself a top 12 system prospect in a pitching heavy organization.
Ethan Schiefelbein, FCL Tigers – The 2nd pitcher on this years edition, Schiefelbein was drafted in the 2nd round out of Corona High School in Corona, California by the Tigers last season with their Competetive B Balance Pick. The left hander received an above slot signing bonus at $1.8 million to forgo his commitment to UCLA. Schiefelbein didn’t pitch at any minor league level last year but will likely be playing in Lakeland by the end of the season.
He features a fastball that changes speeds but ultimately sits in the low 90s which excellent vertical rise. His changeup is his 4th best pitch and works best when used the least but can be used properly with his stellar breaking balls. His slider sweeps across the plate and his curveball is a traditional up and down 12-6 curveball that sits in the high 70s.
Schiefelbein’s curveball works well in the outer half of the zone to right handed batters and can garner easy swings and misses and act as a surprise to some hitters. Despite being so young, Schiefelbein shows good control and maturity on the rubber which can carve up the lower minor leagues. The southpaw currently is listed at #18 on our prospect list and most likely won’t pitch above Lakeland this season but can take strides to become a fringe top 13 prospect by season’s end.
Andrew Sears, West Michigan Whitecaps – The 22 year old out of The University of Connecticut put up a very promising season in 2024 with the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Sears pitched in 22 games, starting 19 down in Florida pitching a total of 89.2 innings. He struck out 101 batters making his K rate 26.4%. Sears is a left hander with a low to mid 90s fastball and a sweeping slider.
This pair works very well with his low arm angle, similar to 20 season major league veteran Oliver Perez. Andrew Sears is currently ranked very low on our prospect rankings list at #45 and has all the room in the world to cut that ranking in half by the end of the season.
West Michigan Whitecaps left handed Andrew Sears paired next to 20 year MLB veteran Oliver Perez.
Very similar. pic.twitter.com/QKpbEuQpFQ
— Colin Arthur (@CRileyArthur) April 6, 2025
Recap – Last years list is completely different than this years list. This seasons list contains more widely unknown prospects to even the biggest Detroit Tigers fans than last year. Cristian Santana is a known prospect to many fans. Kevin McGonigle was a 1st round pick and the 2nd ever selection by Scott Harris. Two of the five players on this years list won’t even start their season until May at the earliest.
Ethan Schiefelbein hasn’t pitched a single inning professionally yet, Jose Dickson has played one season, Carson Rucker played a total of 13 games between 2023 and 2024, and Andrew Sears has only played one full season in the minor leagues. Despite these players being inexperienced, even for the minor leagues, they all have the tools and what it takes to soar through the Tigers minor league system from team to team, on the TMLR prospect rankings, or even both.
Rogelio Castillo 
Joe Rampe