The Tigers announced the bulk of their Arizona Fall League representatives. They are sending Luis Marte, Rudy Darrow, Casey Fien, Zach Simons, Jeff Larish, and Clete Thomas.
Luis Marte is a nice selection. He emerged earlier this year as a rising prospect, but lost a chunk of the year to injury. This gives him some additional innings to build a full season’s workload. Also, he and Zach Simons are eligible for the Rule 5 draft if they aren’t protected on the 40 man roster. This gives the team a little more time to evaluate.
The Tigers will be sending one more position player who has yet to be determined. Teams are only allowed to send one player below AA, and Simons fills that quota meaning the player will be someone from Erie or Toledo. And that player would need to have been to Erie or Toledo no later than August 1st meaning James Skelton wouldn’t be eligible.
UPDATE: The freep updated their story and catcher Dusty Ryan will be the 7th guy sent.
“Teams are only allowed to send one player below AA, and Simons fills that quota meaning the player will be someone from Erie or Toledo. And that player would need to have been to Erie or Toledo no later than August 1st”
Where on earth do these rules come from?
“Where on earth do these rules come from?”
That’s what I said. About all of them. Madness, I say.
So position player candidates who meet the criteria (not counting free agents, who would be out of the Tigers control, by the time the AFL rolls around) would be:
Michael Hollimon
Dusty Ryan
Brent Clevlen
William Rhymes
Jeff Frazier
Ryan Roberson
Shawn Roof
Deik Scram
Casper Wells
I wonder if the other spot is to go to Worth, if he is deemed healthy?
Didn’t Leyland want Joyce to go here? Or did he want him to go to Mexico? I get my fall/winter leagues messed up.
The extra player is Dusty Ryan. Now I’m curious as to who will go to Hawaii.
Dave – I believe Leyland wants Joyce to go to Mexico to work on hitting breaking balls.
Dave T. –
Leyland wanted Joyce to go to the Mexican Winter league. The league is known for pitchers who throw a lot of breaking balls. I am pretty sure Joyce does not qualify for the Arizona Fall league, due to him passing his rookie eligibility this summer. Joyce has confirmed he will be playing in the Mexican league this winter.
Matt –
Ryan makes sense too. A good chance to give him at bats at a higher level to see how well he hits and handles top flight pitching.
Larrish up and will start at 3rd tonight. Lambert has been sent back to Toledo. It’s good to have another left handed bat in the lineup.
I would really love to see Casper Wells (Erie Seawolves) get the opportunity to play in the AFL. He’s a “Gym rat” in a baseball uniform and is now coming into his own. He is more typically a corner outfielder with good speed and very, very good power.