Tigers' Top 30 prospects list gets midseason shakeup

The names should look familiar at the top of the updated Tigers Top 30 prospect list. Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Josue Briceño have arguably become baseball’s next highly anticipated wave of prospects on a steady path towards the big leagues. It’s beyond the big trio where the Tigers' rankings start to shift.

The Tigers have four of MLB Pipeline’s Top 35 prospects, led by McGonigle at No. 2 and Clark at No. 9. Catcher Thayron Liranzo fell out of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 but remains at No. 5 on Detroit's list. From there, the shift begins. Troy Melton is just outside the Tigers’ Top 5, though he’ll graduate from prospect status soon. Max Anderson’s breakout season has earned him a Top 10 standing. Seven picks from last month’s MLB Draft have joined the list, led by first-rounder Jordan Yost at No. 9.

Between updated rankings, promotions and trades, what was once a list heavy on Double-A players is now weighted more towards the lower levels of the system. The SeaWolves still have eight Top 30 prospects, including newly promoted John Peck, but 17 of Detroit’s Top 30 are currently at High-A or lower, including eight in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Here’s a look at the Tigers’ top prospects:

1. Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B (No. 2 on MLB Pipeline Top 100)
2. Max Clark, OF (No. 9)
3. Josue Briceño, 1B/C (No. 32)
4. Bryce Rainer, SS (No. 35)
5. Thayron Liranzo, C/1B
Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Max Anderson, 2B/3B (Preseason: 24 | Midseason: 10) -- The second-round pick from the 2023 Draft has been the breakout Tigers hitting prospect of the season, slashing .306/.358/.499 with 25 doubles, 14 homers and 65 RBIs in 90 games for Double-A Erie. Just promoted to Triple-A Toledo, he’s now a step away from his MLB debut.

Fall: Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP (Preseason: 16 | Midseason: 30) -- The Tigers coaxed Schiefelbein out of a commitment to UCLA to turn pro with their Competitive Balance Round B selection in the 2024 Draft, but injuries have limited the lefty to just nine professional innings, all in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League this May. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on July 24, effectively ending his season.

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

9. Jordan Yost, SS (Drafted in first round)
12. Malachi Witherspoon, RHP (Drafted in second round)
18. Michael Oliveto, C (Drafted in Competitive Balance Round A)
19. Ben Jacobs, LHP (Drafted in third round)
24. Nick Dumesnil, OF (Drafted in eighth round)
25. River Hamilton, RHP (Drafted in 11th round)
28. Greyson Grinsell, LHP (Drafted in sixth round)

Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 70 -- Kevin McGonigle
Power: 60 -- Josue Briceño (Thayron Liranzo, Bryce Rainer, Thayron Liranzo, Cris Rodriguez, Nestor Miranda)
Run: 70 -- Max Clark
Arm: 70 -- Bryce Rainer
Defense: 60 -- Clark (John Peck)
Fastball: 60 -- Troy Melton (Dylan Smith)
Curveball: 60 -- Malachi Witherspoon (Lucas Elissalt)
Slider: 60 -- Kelvis Salcedo (Melton, Witherspoon, Ty Madden, Smith)
Changeup: 60 -- Grayson Grinsell
Control: 55 -- Jake Miller (Grinsell)