Detroit Tigers have logjam of outfield prospects. It's not a bad thing

Jeff Seidel
Detroit Free Press

Remember Derek Hill?

He was the Parker Meadows of the Detroit Tigers' minor league system — back when Meadows was still in junior high school.

Hill, a center fielder, was the Tigers' first-round pick in the 2014 draft, right out of high school, and he accepted a $2 million bonus not to go to Oregon.

But his career has been halted by injuries and a lack of consistent production. Now, in his sixth year in the Tigers system, Hill is finally healthy and hitting. He has a .333 batting average with three home runs, two triples and three doubles in 12 games at Double-A Erie.

Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig, left, poses with outfielder Derek Hill from Elk Grove High School in Sacramento, California, at the 2014 MLB baseball draft Thursday, June 5, 2014, in Secaucus, N.J.

Yes, that's a small sample size.

Yes, he still has to stay healthy.

But it's intriguing to say the least.

“He’s been injured,” Tigers general manager Al Avila said. “He has never put together a full season, so it’s been very frustrating for everybody. Right now, he’s healthy. He’s probably as healthy as he’s every been.”

And he is finally hitting, at a time when the Tigers have a growing list of fascinating outfield prospects in their minor-league system.

There is a logjam of prospects at Triple-A Toledo. Daz Cameron, a center fielder who is gifted with skills and has a high ceiling, is just waiting to get called up to Detroit. Danny Woodrow and Jacob Robson are, in the Avila, “really good players."

Mikie Mahtook was sent down to Toledo to clear his head after struggling through a miserable 0-23 slump in Detroit; and all he’s done is put together a five-game hitting streak (.389) in Toledo. 

Victor Reyes, who spent last season in Detroit and is on the 40-man roster, is hitting .228 in Toledo.

Christin Stewart, who has made it to Detroit but is still considered the Tigers’ No.8 prospect, is on the disabled list.

Dustin Peterson, 24, is getting some playing time in Detroit because of Stewart's injury. When Stewart comes back, it will be interesting what the Tigers do with him because they need him to get at bats to develop. And that could make an even bigger logjam in Toledo because the Tigers have made it a priority to see what he can do.

Meadows, who is the Tigers’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has hit a couple of home runs in his first 13 games at Single-A West Michigan — one inside the park and the other outside. 

And then, there is a fascinating development at Double-A Erie.

The Seawolves are led by three outfielders, who are ripping the ball: left fielder Cam Gibson, right fielder Jose Azocar and Hill.

Gibson leads the Seawolves in hitting with a .351 average, Hill is second at .333 and Azocar is third (.310).

More:Detroit Tigers top prospects: Minor league statistics for 2019

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Hill finally healthy

Hill has gotten a hit in eight of the last 10 games.

“Derek Hill has the tools to be a Major League player,” Avila said. “It’s up to him to be able to continue to work hard and get there. To be honest, it’s on him. And he’s been told. This won’t catch him by surprise.”

Hill is an exceptional defender. He has spectacular speed and a natural ability to go get the ball. But he has struggled offensively, with a .247 average in 369 minor league games.

Even though it feels as if Hill has been around forever — and he has — he is still only 23 years old.

“Now, he’s older,” Avila said. “Every body is different. A high school kid, sometimes, when you put them in professional baseball, the rigors of every day can take a toll on a young body. Now, at 23 or 24, the body is much more mature. Hopefully, he can take the rigors of professional baseball. He’s always been a very talented guy, a toolsey guy, a five tools guy, really. 

“If you don’t have the tools, you cannot develop into a Major League player. If you have the tools, something can click (as you get older). If you can get it to click if you are young enough, and still be a very good Major League player, that’s where he is at right now.”

Another Gibby

Gibson has hit .351 in the first 10 games with three doubles, a triple and home run, while driving in five runs. He also added two steals.

“Cam is a tools guy, can run like a deer,” Avila said. “Obviously, from a defensive perspective, there is room for improvement.”

When Avila looks at Cam, he sees his father, Tigers great Kirk Gibson.

“He’s the carbon copy of his father,” Avila said. “Kirk Gibson was a big league player, and a damn good one. Well, if you remember Kirk, when he was young, he was raw. He had a choppy swing. Didn’t have a great arm. Now, he could run like a deer and had some power. That’s Cam. Doesn’t have the greatest arm. Right now, not the greatest defender. He’s got a choppy swing, he’s got some power and he can run like a deer. If you describe Kirk Gibson, you are describing Cam Gibson.”

More:Detroit Tigers' Cam Gibson a throwback to the old days. The days of his dad

And that’s a pretty good place to start.

Cam Gibson, 25, was taken in the fifth round of the 2015 draft out of Michigan State.

“There are tools there to work with,” Avila said. “Let’s see if they develop. Right now, he is making good progress.”

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel/