While the Detroit Tigers have become known as one of the top development teams for pitching over the last few years, no one has a perfect track record. Perhaps the most disappointing development in the system over the past two years has been the fall of right-hander Wilmer Flores.
The Tigers signed Flores, younger brother of the long-time Giants infielder of the same name, as an undrafted free agent after the short, five round, 2020 amateur draft. The Venezuelan was just 19 years old at the time, with only a season at Arizona Western college. That was a bad year to sign, particularly as a JUCO, and he received just a $20,000 bonus.