Detroit Tigers minor league report

In a season with as many injuries as the Detroit Tigers have suffered, it becomes pretty important to keep track of what is going on in their farm system. Given a roster that still needs a little something is becomes more important to keep track of the goings on down there as the Tigers will surely deal some prospects to get the pieces they need on teh big team.

We start with the Toledo Mudhens and the rehab start of one rookie pitcher Drew Smyly. He gave up three runs in two innings of work. That sounds worse then it really is as the three runs all came on a home run. Drew tends to let a lot of runners get on base, but can usually stop the bleeding before big damage is done. He did strike out three and did not issue a walk. He was scheduled to go three innings but left after two. He is eligible to return to the Tigers next Tuesday.

Good news for Nick Castellanos, he has been named to play in the All-Star Futures game. That is the game played the game week and in the same venue as the MLB All Star Game. Castellanos is having a big year in the minors. He cruised thru a Single A assignment with the Lakeland Tigers. He was named to the Florida State League All Star team, and has been promoted to Double Erie. With the Sea Wolves since June 4th he has hit .273 in 11 games. He may get a chance to play inToledoat some point and we may even see him inDetroitafter teh September call ups.

His Sea Wolf teammate Pitcher Bruce Randon has also been named to the Futures game inKansas City. He went 1-0 withLakelandwith a 1.93 and 15 saves in 22 games there. He has also bee named to that league’s all star game. Promoted to Double A this week he pitched a 1-2-3 scoreless ninth in hisEriedebut.

When Alex Avila returned to the Tigers they had to make room for him on the active roster so they sent Bryan Holaday back toToledo. His replacement there was Rob Brantly who was thought of as a adequate replacement for him. The Tigers seem to be high on both these young men as there are now reports that they will share the catching duties for the Mudhens. It looks like they will share catching and DH duties. Holaday hit .300 in his time with the Tigers which was a lot higher than his record in Triple A. Brantly is tearing up the International League and has been the spark teh Mudhens offense has been missing at times. In 49 at bats Brantly is hitting .347 with 14 RBI.

In Erie James McCann was promoted to take Brantly’s spot, but so far he has not found similar success. He was hitting .288 inLakelandbut as not adjusted to the new level of competition in Double A yet.