Tigers Prospects Are Raising A Bigger Question About Detroits Young Bats

Despite a promising Double A season, the Tigers' top prospects are facing unexpected challenges in the Arizona Fall League, highlighting areas that need improvement before the 2027 season.

The Tigers’ group in the Arizona Fall League has gotten off to a mixed start, with the bats lagging behind while several pitchers have turned in steadier work for Scottsdale.

Zyhir Hope, Detroit’s top-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline after coming over from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal trade in August, has been the brightest of the Tigers’ hitters so far. He has only one home run, but he has also drawn enough traffic on base to post a .425 on-base percentage through nine games.

The slugging outfielder has seven walks and 10 strikeouts as he works through his first two weeks in the AFL after a monster 2026 season at Double A split between the Dodgers and Tigers systems. He’s expected to reach Detroit at some point in 2027.

The rest of the Tigers’ position-player contingent has had a much rougher run. Bryce Rainer, the organization’s No. 2 prospect, is batting .160 through seven games, with 10 strikeouts. John Peck has been even quieter at the plate, hitting .065 through eight games with 11 strikeouts.

Detroit does have five pitchers in the league, which runs through mid-November, and those arms have provided a more encouraging look overall. The Tigers’ eight prospects are all playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Here’s a look at how the Tigers’ AFL group has performed through Monday, Oct. 19:

OF Zyhir Hope, 11th-round pick by Chicago Cubs in 2023 (traded to Tigers by Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2026): 9 games, .258/.425/.355, HR, 6 RBIs, 5 R, 7 BB, 10 SO

IF Bryce Rainer, first-round pick (No. 11 overall) by Tigers in 2024: 7 games, .160/.214/.240, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, 10 SO

IF John Peck, seventh-round pick by Tigers in 2023: 8 games, .065/.143/.097, 4 RBIs, 3 R, 2B, 3 BB, 11 SO

RHP Logan Berrier, free agent signed by Tigers in 2025: 3 games, 1-0, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 SO

RHP Jalen Evans, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 3 games, 2.70 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 SO

RHP Preston Howey, 14th-round pick by Tigers in 2024: 3 games, 1-0 6.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 3 SO

RHP Maddox Long, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 3 games, 1-0, 3.52 ERA, 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 BB, 6 SO

LHP Win Scott, free agent signed by Tigers in 2026: 3 games, 10.38 ERA, 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 2 SO

One other AFL name worth noting: Caleb Bonemer, the No. 2 prospect in the Chicago White Sox system and a native of Okemos, Mich., has started strong as well. He is batting .282/.349/.590 with two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games.

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