Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson makes for an interesting case study as the organization continues to improve its player development system. A year ago, Olson wasn’t particularly well regarded as a starting pitching prospect. He had a really good slider-changeup combination and racked up plenty of strikeouts in his rise through the minor leagues. But an average fastball and inconsistent command kept him off top 100 prospect lists.
Still, as Olson proved in 2023, breaking into the major league rotation isn’t just for the elite pitching prospects in the system anymore. The Tigers are doing a pretty good job identifying issues and devising solutions under Chris Fetter’s leadership.