Former MLB executive names Detroit Tigers baseball’s top two prospects

Over the past few years, the Detroit Tigers have done an excellent job of rebuilding their farm system.

Sure, having the top 10 picks makes things easier, but they also found players who became solid prospects later in the draft, like Tarik Skubal, a ninth-round pick.

They are considered to have one of the better systems in the game so far.

Many outlets have their own rankings of prospects, but perhaps the most unique list comes from Jim Bowden of Athletic.

He was previously the general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, and now he’s a baseball executive. His prospect rankings are far from the consensus. And in his top 50, the Tigers had players all over the place.

There are four players on the list, but what is most striking is the positions taken by the top two: numbers one and two.

Bowden considers right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe the best prospect in all of baseball.

While he is a fairly consistent top ten player, the No. 1 position is new to him.

Jobe, 22, was the third overall pick in 2021 coming out of high school. A highly regarded plus-plus slider, he battled injury in 2023 after an uncertain first year in the minor leagues in 2022. While he was solid in 16 starts last year, this season has seen him have a huge breakthrough that has catapulted him to the top of the list.

In 75.2 innings pitched, the right-handed pitcher posted a 2.02 ERA with 81 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP. At two levels, Jobe dominated hitters all year en route to Double-A.

As arguably the best right-handed pitching prospect in baseball, Jobe continues to elevate his profile.

Second on Bowden’s list is Detroit prospect Max Clark.

Like Jobe, Clark was the third overall pick coming out of high school and consistently ranked in the top 10. In his first full season in the pro league, Clark showed why he was so highly regarded.

The 19-year-old has reached the High-A level and has put his best tools to good use. In 104 games, the left-hander has a .798 OPS with nine home runs, 20 doubles, six triples and 29 stolen bases.

Because he’s so young, he’s still a long way off from major league play, but his skill set is very exciting and he’s already quite polished.

The list also includes another young player who was selected in the top 10, this time it is Bryce Rainer, a first-round pick in the 2024 draft.

The 19-year-old was considered the school’s top player in the class due to his strength and good arm at the shortstop position.

Rainer has not yet made his debut in this position, but there are high hopes that he can become the future of the team in this position.

Finally, Kevin McGonigle, a 20-year-old midfielder, made it onto the list at 38th place.

He’s a pure hitter who has great feel for the field. In 74 games this season, he has a .309 average with an .853 OPS, 16 home runs and more walks than strikeouts.

This player won’t impress anyone with his strength, but his rebounding skills are impressive.

While it’s an unconventional list, Bowden clearly values ​​the Tigers’ ability to develop players. All are widely considered top prospects, but they’ve reached new heights on this list compiled by a former baseball executive.