Turner, Oliver, Fields Get Their Tiger Stripes

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 18, 2009 12:45 AM EDT in News Comment 34 comments

With a couple of hours before the midnight signing deadline, the Detroit Tigers reached contract agreements with three of their most prominent 2009 draft picks.

In past years, negotiations didn't cut it quite as close. Rick Porcello, for instance, signed the night before the deadline in 2007. Last year, Ryan Perry signed more than a month beforehand. (Of course, as a college draftee, he didn't have the same leverage.)

Pitcher Jacob Turner, the team's first-round selection, signed a major league contract worth at least $5.5 million. $4.7 million of that will be given as a signing bonus, which is a record amount for a high school pitcher. (As a comparison, Porcello received a $3.7 million bonus when he signed his deal.)

According to Jason Beck, the contract's total value could reach $7 million, depending on how quickly Turner reaches the majors. If he were to pitch for the Tigers immediately, he could make another $2.15 million. Or he could make $800,000 if he spent the life of his contract in the minors. The deal includes team options for a fifth and sixth year. If Turner is in the majors, those options will be for $1 million per season. If he's in the minors, each year will be $500,000.

John Lowe has the exact contract details laid out at Freep.com.

The Tigers' second-round pick, pitcher Andrew Oliver, signed a contract worth $1.495 million.

And in perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the day, Detroit also agreed to terms with shortstop Daniel Fields, their sixth-round selection. He signed a deal worth $1.6 million. The Tigers had to pony up the dough to keep Fields from going to the University of Michigan (and he would've been a huge recruit for Rich Maloney next year).

Fields, as you likely know by now, is the son of former Tigers player and coach Bruce Fields. According to Beck, he'll report to Lakeland this week, and could see some Gulf Coast League action soon thereafter.

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Absolutely thrilled

I’ll have scouting reports up in a second…

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RHP Jacob Turner

Decent scouting report here.

Fastball: sits in the mid to upper 90’s, can touch 98. Good movement as well.
Curveball: sits at 76-78, is a pretty solid pitch right now, but needs improvement. Very projectable though.
Changeup: solid for his age, still needs work.
Delivery: seems to be two-toned (think Danny Haren, where he starts slow and speeds up), but he repeats it very well.

Overall, I’ve heard Turner described as the second best SP prospect in the draft, and while I still like Tyler Matsek, they’re both great prospects. Turner is not a bad choice (though Matsek got less from the Rox).

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LHP Andrew Oliver

Can’t find a truly good scouting report, so no linkage. Sorry. :(

Fastball: sits in the mid-90’s, good command of the pitch, very good fastball for a lefty, can throw it to induce GB’s.
Changeup: very good now, projects plus.
Curveball/breaking pitch: I’ve seen some people say he throws a slurvy pitch, but John Sickles has said curve. Either way, it disappeared this year. It just freakin disappeared.

To be honest, I see so much Fernando Rodney in Oliver it’s not even funny. While Rodney throws righty, both have a good fastball and a good change, but not much in terms of a third pitch. It’s not a bad pick, but this is a bullpen heavy system, so we can only hope that he rediscovers that curve or we have yet another freakin bullpen arm.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 1:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

SS Daniel Fields

Fast, good defending left handed SS out of Jesuit Prep in Detroit. Alas, can’t find a good report on him, but he’s apparently got a smooth line drive stroke and profiles as someone who can stick at SS. He’s an athlete, and very projectable. Essentially, what we were promised with Cale Iorg, but younger. Can’t rave enough about this- the guy was a prospective first or second rounder and we got him in the 6th. He’s easily the best position prospect in the system (second best if Avila gets demoted).

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lefty SS?

Is that right, DDB? I only ask because of yesterday’s link in the Morning Prowl to the NYT story on the dearth of left-handed catchers. The article also discussed the absence of lefties at the middle infield positions as well.

I understood the logic behind no left-handed second basemen (can’t turn the pivot on a DP without spinning around) but I was less convinced by the logic behind the absence of lefty SS. Although, having played the position myself in Little League, I remember even then that 1) it was weird to have a lefty at short; and 2) it was awkward to make the pivot throw to second, since you have to turn your body to do so, and could cause a young player to tweak his elbow or develop some odd habits.

Anyways, just thought it warranted mentioning in light of previous discussions. Great reviews, BTW.

by VATigersFan on Aug 18, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think he's lefty hitting

This article has a little more.

He probably throws righty, but he’s a LH hitter.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Updated top 10

1. Casey Crosby, LHP
2. Jacob Turner, RHP
3. Alex Avila, C
4. Daniel Fields, SS
5. Wilkin Ramirez, OF
6. Ryan Streiby, LF/1B
7. Andrew Oliver, LHP
8. Scott Sizemore, 2B
9. Alfredo Figaro, RHP
10. Cale Iorg, SS

Mind you, I probably overvalue Avila and I’m going by gut on the other new draftees. But gun to head, this is probably how I arrange the system now.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Aug 18, 2009 1:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs