The Tigers have done well with a slew of high picks in recent drafts. It's how their farm system has gone from one of baseball's weakest to one of its best. It's how their future has grown exceedingly bright. But every good rebuild needs late-round steals -- like Tarik Skubal, a ninth-rounder in 2018 who just broke the franchise rookie record for strikeouts in a season.
Detroit may have found another hidden gem in Beau Brieske. A 27th round pick in 2019, Brieske has been named the Tigers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Fittingly, he now ranks No. 27 among the club's top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline. Don't be surprised if Brieske keeps rising.
The 23-year-old righty started this season in High-A West Michigan and racked up well over a strikeout per inning in 13 starts. That earned him a promotion to Double-A Erie, where in eight starts his numbers were arguably even better: 2.66 ERA, 1.00 WHIP. He finished the year with a 3.12 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 116 strikeouts to 23 walks. He was also responsible for the lone shutout in the Tigers' farm system.
Brieske throws a low-to-mid 90's fastball with a "low 80's changeup that's easily his best secondary offering," per MLB Pipeline. He's also added a slider and a curve and "has no issues filling the zone."
"Hurlers with four pitches and good control will always find spots in an organization, and folks in the Detroit organization admit Brieske’s 2021 ascent is getting him more consideration within the system," says MLB Pipeline.
MLB Pipeline projects Brieske as a back-end starter or a bulk reliever in the big leagues if he continues his current ascent. And maybe he'll push his ceiling even higher in 2022.
To no surprise, the Tigers' Minor League Player of the Year went to Riley Greene. All he did was rake for five straight months, first at Double-A and then at Triple-A. He led all Tigers minor leaguers in batting average, hits, triples and total bases and tied for the lead in runs scored. In 40 games in Triple-A, he posted a .953 OPS. Greene, who turned 21 last month, has a real chance to make the Tigers roster out of camp next spring.
"He’s doing everything that we could expect for someone who’s getting ready to come to the big leagues," A.J. Hinch said this week. "I don't know what exactly happens April 1 or whenever we have to make the decision, but I know we love him. I know we really like how he handled a couple different levels this year.
"It’s all setting up for a great spring to look at Riley as an option. Where it goes from here, he’s going to play a part in that, we’re going to play a part in that and now the clock’s ticking because we are awaiting his arrival."