The Detroit Tigers placed five players — including three in the top 30 — on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list for 2025, unveiled Wednesday morning.
Righthander Jackson Jobe leads the way for the Tigers at No. 3 overall, followed by outfielder Max Clark (22), infielder Kevin McGonigle (23), shortstop Bryce Rainer (60) and catcher Thayron Liranzo (69).
The Seattle Mariners boasted the most prospects on the list, with seven, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays with six apiece.Jobe, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, pitched four scoreless innings during two regular-season appearances for the Tigers in 2024, before getting touched for five hits and three runs in two games covering 1.2 innings in the postseason.
It capped a season in which Jobe, 22, compiled a 2.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 91.2 innings over three minor-league levels. He fanned 96, but walked 45.
Jobe likely will compete for a spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster, though competition expects to be plentiful for jobs on the pitching staff.
“After injuries marred the early portion of his career, Jobe emerged in full in 2024,” Baseball America writes. “Tigers fans got a taste of their top prospect toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, but he’ll get his first long-term exposure this coming season. He has a chance to pitch toward the top of Detroit’s rotation.”
Clark and McGonigle seem to be linked as they climb the ladder through the Tigers system and ascend prospect lists. Clark and McGonigle were ranked Nos. 29 and 30, respectively, in Baseball America’s post-MLB Draft update in July, were part of the same draft class, and were promoted together to Single-A West Michigan.
The 20-year-old Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, played for Lakeland before the promotion to West Michigan, hitting .279 (.793 OPS) with 29 stolen bases in 33 attempts.
“Clark has a polished, well-rounded skill set and a high motor,” Baseball America writes. “His plus-plus speed and center field defense coupled with strong barrel skills provide a reasonably high floor, even if some question whether he’ll become a star.”
McGonigle, meanwhile, saw his first full season cut short by a broken hand. The 20-year-old, selected No. 37 overall in 2023, still hit .309 with an .853 OPS in 272 official at-bats between Single-A Lakeland and West Michigan. He was identified on Tuesday by MLB Pipeline as the “highest riser” among the outlet’s top 10 prospects at shortstop.
“McGonigle is a hitting machine,” Baseball America writes. “(He) has elite contact skills and rarely chases. His power gains and shortstop defense in 2024 exceeded expectations, too. The 5-foot-10 infielder has all-star upside even if he has to shift to second base.”
Rainer was the Tigers’ top draft pick in 2024, selected No. 11 overall, and has yet to make his organizational debut. Baseball America says he has “the inside track on becoming the Tigers’ shortstop of the future.”
Liranzo, was part of the Tigers’ return when they traded starting pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline. Liranzo mashed once he arrived at West Michigan, hitting .315 with a 1.032 OPS in 26 games there, clubbing five home runs during that span before turning in a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League.
Liranzo also was identified by Baseball America as a prospect “primed to rise” in the top-100 rankings.
“Before the deal, Liranzo was only showing flashes of his potential at High-A Great Lakes,” Baseball America’s Josh Norris writes. “After the trade, the script flipped and he became an offensive force. With West Michigan, Liranzo, the switch-hitting bopper posted a .315/.470/.562 line with five home runs and more walks (26) than strikeouts (20). His hot streak continued in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted an 1.158 OPS and popped two more home runs. Liranzo has the offensive skills to fit in the middle of a lineup, and sticking behind the plate would push him well up the board.”
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