West Michigan Whitecaps Prospect Update

With the season coming to a close for the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, I am going to take you through the team and tell who to watch out for in the coming years. Also just recap the season that was for the West Michigan Whitecaps to this point in this season. Overall the Whitecaps are a mediocre team right now with a handful of good pitching prospects and a good catching prospect.

They have lost a variety of players throughout the season. A handful of players have been promoted up the Detroit Tigers organization to teams like Lakeland, Erie, and Toledo. These players include the likes of outfielder Casper Wells and pitcher Alfredo Figaro. That is a good thing for the organization, a concept West Michigan has been accustomed to for losing players after they play well at Fifth Third Ball Park in Comstock Park, MI.

Although the Whitecaps fans here in West Michigan got to see two big league players suit up this season in Caps uniforms. Curtis Granderson played a few games with the club. As well as Magglio Ordonez coming to play in early July which stirred up a ruckus in West Michigan. Those were some exciting times that definitely stick out to me when I think about the Whitecaps season.

Let's get to the prospects who we could see move up soon in the organization and may very well see in a Tigers uniform in a couple years. Pitcher Jonathan Kibler has to lead this list. Kibler is from Michigan St. and is a 22 year-old 6'5 left-handed pitcher having a lot of success with the Caps. He is 14-4 with a 1.63 ERA in 22 games started on the season. He has piled up 121 strikeouts in 149 innings. He has only given up 31 walks, 4 homers, has pitched two complete games (one in which was a shutout). These are impressive numbers for sure and I'm sure Dave Dombrowski has taken notice even if they are numbers put up at the Single-A level.

The next prospect is Scott Green who is a 23 year old 6'7 right-handed pitcher from Kentucky। Green was drafted in the 3rd round in the 2008 MLB players draft by the Tigers. Green is a reliever and has only pitched 14 innings for the Caps in limited action. Another very good relief prospect is Brett Jacobsen who the Tigers drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 MLB players draft. Jacobsen is 21 year-old 6'6 right hander who has pitched 23 innings with the Whitecaps who improves each and every appearance. Jacobsen has tallied up 26 strikeouts and has an ERA of 1.96.

I have two more pitching prospects I want to talk about in Charles Furbush and Mauricio Robles. Furbush is a 22 year old left hander who stands 6'5 and has pitched really well at West Michigan. He is a starting pitcher with 4-1 record and a 2.17 ERA on the season. In 45 innings he has struck out 46 batters and walked only 11. Furbush was selected in the fourth round by the Tigers in the 2007 player's draft. As for Robles he is a bit of a wildcard player. He is only 19 and from Venezulea. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent back in 2006. He is a starter and definitely a player to watch with a 4-3 record and posting a 2.58 ERA on the season.

Now to the Whitecaps most prized position player. Alex Avila is the Tigers best catching prospect in the minors right now. Avila was drafted in the fifth round this year out of the University of Alabama. He is a left handed batter who is pretty good behind the plate. He reminds me of Dionar Navarro of the Tampa Bay Rays a lot in how he plays. He could possibly be a career backup at the major league level if his doesn't start to hit for pop. He is batting .300 in 180 at bats, has driven in 17 runners, but doesn't have a home run yet. One thing that sticks out to me is he is a patient hitter and he is a gap hitter. He has 17 doubles on the season so far so that is impressive.

A few other players you should watch out for our shortstop Brandon Douglas and Pitcher Joey Hamilton. Douglas is currently playing with the Oneonta Tigers in New York which is another Single-A affiliate of the Tigers. Hamilton is playing in the Gulf Coast League for the Tigers down in Lakeland, FL.

Overall the Tigers have some pretty good pieces down at the Single-A level currently. Most of these guys will never see Single-A ball after this season in my estimation. Some may never see a Detroit Tigers uniform which is alright, we can use them as trade bait to help our roster in the end at the major-league level.

So just remember next time you are at Fifth Third Ballpark keep an eye out for some of the guys I suggested to watch for.