The Tigers have a big need at shortstop as Adam Everett and Ramon Santiago are playing there this year. The thought was that Cale Iorg would be ready to take over in 2010 at SS for the Tigers. But that won’t happen. Iorg came into this season as the Tigers’ #3 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America but he hasn’t played like it. Iorg played in 129 games in AA-ball this season and he was 110 for 492 (.224 avg, .612 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 11 homers, 41 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He also whiffed a stunning 149 times this season which is way too many for a hitter like him. The 24-year old righty swinging Iorg is running out of time as a prospect at 24 years old. He needs to have a big season in 2010 to regain his top prospect status.

24-year old righty reliever Zach Simons was the #28 rated prospect in the Tigers’ system heading into this season according to Baseball America…..but he’s moving up quick. Simons has pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 1-1 with 2 saves, a 2.43 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He has whiffed 56 batters in only 55 2/3 innings this season while allowing only 36 hits showing what kind of stuff he has. Simons will get called up when rosters expand in September if not before as long as he keeps pitching well.

The Tigers have promoted 25-year old lefty starting pitcher Dontelle Willis to AAA-ball. He has pitched in 9 games (8 starts) in A+AAA ball this season and he is 1-4 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. If he pitches well in his first couple of starts the Tigers will likely give him another chance. Willis was awful for them earlier this season as he pitched in 5 games (4 starts) in which he was 0-1 with a 10.32 ERA and a 2.47 WHIP. He walked an amazing 21 batters in only 11.1 innings with the Tigers. That will not be tolerated if he gets another chance soon with the Tigers.

The Tigers have traded most of their top prospects this past off season but they held onto shortstop Cale Iorg. The 22-year old righty swinging Iorg has looked pretty good this season. He has played in 79 games in A-Ball this season and he is 81 for 309 (.262 avg, .748 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 8 homers, 40 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Iorg was the #2 prospect in the entire Tigers’ minor league system coming into this season according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook and he’s showing why this year. Look for him to be playing ball in Comerica Park in the near future.

29-year old lefty reliever Ian Ostlund is pitching really well in AAA ball for the Tigers. The next time the Tigers need lefty help in the bullpen they should give this guy a call. Ostlund has pitched in 29 games (0 starts) in AAA ball for the Tigers this season and he is 3-0 with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He has whiffed 48 batters while only walking 9 in 42.2 innings this season which shows that he has pretty good stuff and control.