John Sickels has compiled his listing of the Top 20 Detroit Tiger Prospects for 2006. Last year’s list was also headlined by Justin Verlander, but there aren’t that many similarities beyond that. Curtis Granderson, who was number 2 is no longer eligible. Many of the other players have either improved their stock or been pushed off by last year’s draft class. The average grade for last year’s top 20 was a C+, and Sickels offered this commentary:
Oh, boy, what a dismal system.
This year’s list comes in between a B-/C+.
I think Joel Zumaya at a B+ is probably a tad low, and Chris Robinson as a C+ maybe a bit high. Otherwise I pretty much agree with his rankings. Cameron Maybin received a B grade, but with some professional success should see his grade improve. If Jeff Larish, Kevin Whelan, and Clete Thomas continue to build on their impressive debuts they seem poised to move into the B range.