Even the most moribund farm systems have a surplus of big arms stockpiled in the hope that a few guys eventually figure it out. The Tigers, even more than most, generally have a bunch of hard throwers with shoddy command throughout the lower levels of the minor leagues. Rarely does anyone in that profile really put it together, but lefty Gregory Soto made big strides in that direction in 2017.
It’s been a while since a previously unheralded Tigers farmhand drew this much unanimous praise from the industry. Soto had a bow added to his spectacular breakout campaign when he was named MLB Pipeline’s Pitcher of the Year in the Tigers’ system.