On a brisk Friday night in Erie, I made the trip to catch the SeaWolves in action, a team off to a promising start in the Eastern League. While several players have stood out during the early stretch, none have been hotter than infielder Max Anderson.
The 2023 second-round pick by the Tigers is in his first full season at the Double-A level, and he’s wasted no time making an impact. Leading the league in hitting and riding a 15-game hitting streak, (now 16-game) Anderson’s surge might not be a shock to those who’ve followed his steady development, but it’s certainly a welcome sign for the organization.
Max Anderson’s 16-game hitting streak is the longest streak by an @erie_seawolves batter since Corey Jones (18 games) in 2016.
Took till the eighth inning last night. He’d score the go-ahead run on Justice Bigbie’s double. pic.twitter.com/DbCGuZc307
— Sam Lebowitz (@SamLebowitz_) May 25, 2025
During the game, I joined the Erie broadcast with Greg Gania and Sam Leibowitz during the second and fourth innings to talk about Anderson’s strong start, and also to highlight another rising prospect in Roberto Campos. Both players have been key contributors in Erie’s early success and are showing real growth in areas that go beyond the stat sheet.
Anderson credits his recent offensive success to a deeper understanding of how pitchers operate at this level. “Guys are just able to execute a plan a lot better here,” he said. “It’s really a chess match. Every pitch is different, so I just try to hone in on my hot zones and hunt pitches I can do damage with.” That disciplined approach is paying off—he’s not only driving the ball to all fields, but he’s also showing an increased ability to adapt mid-at-bat, something that’s critical for long-term success.
Defensive adjustments
On the defensive side, Anderson looks more comfortable than ever at second base. His footwork and instincts have been sharper, something he attributes to both experience and chemistry. “It helps having guys around you who can really field the ball,” he said. “The infielders here are really good, and that makes it easy for me to stay within myself and not try to do too much.” With seven home runs already and improving metrics on both sides of the ball, Anderson is giving Detroit another infielder in the development pipeline to consider.
Entering the season, there were legitimate concerns about his long-term defensive fit, particularly regarding lateral range. While his first-step quickness and coverage to both sides appeared limited in 2024, he’s shown notable improvement in his ability to extend to his left and right, suggesting enhanced footwork and improved reads off the bat.
What’s been just as impressive as the numbers is how Anderson has adjusted his offensive game without abandoning his strengths. Fans have started to notice a shift—more pull-side power is showing up. “Pitchers are throwing inside more, and you have to show them you can handle it,” he explained. “It’s not about changing who you are, it’s about being good enough at your weaknesses so they have to go back to where you want them.” That kind of awareness—blending analytics, instincts, and approach—only strengthens the case that Anderson could rise quickly through the upper minors.
Campos’s adjustment in Erie
Roberto Campos has quietly turned a corner in his approach at the plate during his first taste of Double-A. His walk rate has jumped to a career-best 12.2%, nearly double his mark from last season at High-A, suggesting a more refined approach and improved pitch recognition.
While the strikeout rate remains in the low 20s, the shift in his BB/K ratio from 0.37 to 0.52 is meaningful, it points to a hitter who’s laying off more marginal pitches and doing damage in better counts. His .376 BABIP reflects the consistent hard contact he’s making, and while some regression might follow, the foundation appears more sustainable than in years past.
While Campos still has moments where he’ll chase sliders off the plate, particularly down and away, he’s shown encouraging restraint overall for someone adjusting to Double-A pitching. If he can maintain his improved approach into the second half, it could mark a real turning point in his development and cement his status as more than just a tools-first prospect.
Defensively, Campos was once viewed as a bat-first prospect with an unclear long-term fit in the outfield, but his early returns in 2025 tell a different story. His footwork and reads have shown improvement, particularly in his range to both gaps. At the plate, he’s become less predictable: after pulling 46.7% of his contact in 2024, he’s down to 44.8% in 2025, with a career-best 36.8% opposite-field rate and a 9.5% HR/FB ratio, his highest since rookie ball. That batted-ball distribution, combined with an increase in hard-hit percentage (36.8%) and more fly balls, points to a maturing hitter who is starting to tap into his power without sacrificing discipline. He is spotting a wRC+ of 136,which is good for this level, to say it just as plain as possible.
While Campos is often labeled as a power-first prospect due to his frame and bat speed, the more compelling development may be his ability to hit for average and get on base consistently. If he can continue to maintain a disciplined approach, drawing walks, avoiding excessive swing changes, and letting the power come naturally, he may not have to sell out for 30 home runs to be valuable.
A profile that includes a .270+ average, 15–20 home runs, and a solid OBP would be a significant win for a Tigers international scouting pipeline that has struggled to develop impact bats in recent years. If Campos can become that kind of all-around contributor, his ceiling becomes much more interesting.
Other observations:
- Troy Melton came off his worst start of the season, allowing 3 runs on eight hits, walking one but struck out eight. This was the first start since he was hit in the shin in his last start at Richmond, which he left the game right after it happened. Melton’s slider and fastball looked good, generating quite a few swings and misses. After allowing 19 home runs in 100 innings of work last season, so far, Melton has allowed just one in 33 innings of work. He was showing better command on both sides of the plate and the curve was looking sharp, despite the hard contact.
- Jordan Marks, who grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, is looking to carve out a role in Erie’s bullpen. The right-hander, drafted in the 8th round in 2021, has come into his own this season. Slider looked good, fastball sat 92-93, he did allow a solo shot to Jose Cordova in the 9th. That was his first home run given up in 17 innings of work between West Michigan and Erie.
- Richard Guasch, who the Tigers signed from the Mexican Leagues, made his debut for Erie on Saturday. The right-hander, who spent time in the A’s and Nationals system, is 27 years old and is a native of Cuba, struck out 25 to just three walks and posted an ERA of 1.93 in 13 appearances.
Newly signed pitcher Richard Guasch made his org debut last night with two scoreless innings for the Erie SeaWolves. Here they are: pic.twitter.com/S4dRn36kDe
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 25, 2025
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Joe Rampe