Better times on the Detroit Tigers farm in 2018 have corresponded, not surprisingly, with an uptick in personnel.
Healthier drafts, trades that have helped re-stock some shelves, and more money for free-agent minor leaguers have paid off as midseason approaches, happier win-loss records abound, and as three short-season teams (Connecticut, two in Gulf Coast League) join the party after they began play during the past weekend.
There could be more help coming.
Franklin Perez, the top Tigers prize in last summer’s deal with the Astros that sent Justin Verlander to Houston, is healing from a spring mishap and should be pitching at either Single A Lakeland or Double A Erie within three weeks.