Brett Callahan became one of the Tigers rookie crop that often made watching Tigers games worthwhile, just to see what might be evolving in seasons ahead. (Photo by Terri Nummer)

The Mailman has arrived:

Q — I was kind of down on the Tigers after the disappointing regular season, but it is great to see how much talent is on the upside. I know not all of them will pan out, but it seems like they have a lot of skilled talent, unlike years past.

Michael Bailey

A — Michael, your thoughts are common among the Tigers crowd: They’ve been watching these games in September mostly because they’re fascinated by the kids. And rightly so. This has been rather exceptional, the stream of rookies that made their way into AJ Hinch’s plans this past season: McGonigle has been the sensation that was, frankly, expected. But the others have held serve and then some: Clark, Lee, Valencia, Malgeri, Callahan, and Peck (Peck’s bat will pick up — he’s had his share of bad luck on well-hit balls). More will be showing up next season, with Josue Briceno a heavy bet there.

Q — With the impending MLB lockout, have you heard of any plans to have the Tigers DSN and radio broadcasters call some of the minor-league games over the multiple levels?

Jim Fordell

A — Doubt the Tigers wouldn’t branch into broadcasting farm games, Jim. Those are separate jurisdictions. People can get those games with MLB.TV and MLB+ subscriptions, which, again, points to the fact different entities exist within the MLB’s broadcast sphere. I think what everyone’s planning on is this for 2027:

Spring training, of course, will not begin on time. Opening Day for MLB teams will not begin as scheduled. There’s a possibility (probability in this view) that, with one second to go before the 2027 season would be called off, a deal will be made that will enable MLB games to begin in May, with late May for sure the better bet. It’s hard to imagine losing all of 2027. Players, owners — too much destruction, in their collective and correct view, would be the consequence of losing 2027. Baseball resumed in a pandemic year in 2020. It figures to be played, albeit late, next year. And then you’ll get Dickerson, Benetti, and the gang back on the tube and on radio.

Q — Please don’t trade Max Anderson. Find him a spot on the roster. Detroit needs right-handed bats.

Clay Tolonen

A — Just not sure how the Tigers can accommodate Anderson. It’s a frustrating issue for fans, for a team, and for Anderson above all, but there really is no place to play him, Clay. None of this should surprise the Tigers. They drafted a bat when they got Anderson. Second base was going to be pretty much his limit, minimally so, and here they are: Hao-Yu Lee is hitting, has more power than Anderson, and has a slightly better glove. You could reasonably make Anderson a DH, but Eduardo Valencia is their best right-hand option there, with catching as his alternate benefit. Some team that can deal with a limited glove at second base and needs his brand of guaranteed offense is bound to bite — and, more than likely, to be happy with the consistent offense Anderson will bring.

Q — One thing you seldom mention are the throwing arms of the prospect outfielders and infielders in your reporting. I’d love to know that information.

John Slotkin

A — The arms hold up, among young Tigers outfielders, as you’ve seen with the guys brought up: Clark, Malgeri, Callahan, all of which are a relative improvement on previous casts. Infield arms vary, although you can see Hao-Yu Lee has enough zip to play third base. Jace Jung isn’t quite on that level, John, but can get by. Max Anderson, as mentioned, has realities that pretty much confine him to second base. John Peck, you’ve seen. He has a shortstop gun, as does Peyton Graham at Erie. Back to outfielders, Zyhir Hope has a plus-arm. Cris Rodriguez, the young gun at Lakeland, can wheel it. The Tigers are doing a good job these days drafting. Arms that hold up are almost always part of the profile.

Q – What happened to Ethan (long name) who threw kind of submarine?

A — Hi, Peter, and thanks for the question. Believe you’re referring to Ethan Schiefelbein, the prep lefty from California the Tigers drafted 71st-overall in 2024? He’s had arm issues and, I believe, surgery (the Tigers keep all of this quiet) and we’ll see what shakes out for 2027. He doesn’t throw submarine-style, so hope I’m not confusing prospect pitchers.

Q — Interesting that the Tigers seem to have found a Kirby Puckett-esque, diamond-in-the-rough player. No expectations that any one of these guys will make it to the big leagues but at least few of them may get a cup of coffee or two.

Jim Fordell

A — Jim: Assume you’re referring to Zyhir Hope, the corner outfielder the Tigers got in the Skubal trade? He definitely is big-league timber. He hit 29 homers this past season in 124 Double-A games, which invites some easy math about what he might do over a full big-league season. His other hitting numbers were on par with his power: .287/.367/.513/.880. His strikeout rate on the farm has been pretty consistently in the 25% range, which isn’t ideal, but he walks 11% of the time. And, most telling, he is all of 21 years old.

Much was made over Keith Law’s observations that he’s a bit fleshy and needs some streamlining. That has never, even privately, been mentioned by Tigers people as an issue. Am sure they’ll get him to knock off a few pounds and add some offseason muscle, but that would not put Hope in exclusive company. He’s going to be an entertaining follow in 2027.

Q — Sorry I should have been more specific, I meant the 5-foot-7 catcher at Erie, Luke Shliger. Shliger is a really interesting talent.

A — Now, I’ve got you, Jim. I’ve been doing research on Luke Shliger and can’t quite figure out why the Giants released him, although they’ve been busy this year dumping a lot of their early draft picks from 2023 (Shliger was a sixth-rounder from the University of Maryland). He indeed is on the stumpy side at 5-foot-7, 197 pounds, and the Giants weren’t sure he had enough power to be of help. So, of course, in 18 games at Erie, he hit six homers — including two grand slams in a single game.

Small wonder the Tigers jumped to sign him after the Giants cut him loose. He’s a good defender, has a fine arm, and in 64 games (he was injured earlier in the year) at four — FOUR — different levels, including a fill-in cameo at Triple-A, here’s what a man who bats left-handed and who today turns 25 hit: .290/.405/.495/.900. He has a minor-league on-base average spanning four seasons of .392. Now you know why the Tigers bit, and bit quickly.

Q — Realistically, what percentage of good Double-A players make it to MLB teams? It seems this is the level that separates the suspects from prospects.

Jan Warner

A — Excellent question, Jan, because your assessment is pretty much bang-on: About a third of Double-A players will get to the majors. It’s still regarded as the basic dividing line between prospects with a chance and those who probably should ponder another profession. If you can pitch or hit at Double-A, you’re basically at the ground-floor of MLB capabilities. Then it gets down to nuances about other aspects of your game: defense, arm, your age, etc. But you absolutely are right: Double-A is still considered a gateway to the majors.

Q — How long it could take the Tigers farm system to get close to emulating the dreaded Dodgers?

Jim Fordell

A — Not sure, Jim, anyone will often out-do the Dodgers when it comes to building a farm system. They’re as good at that aspect of baseball as they are at spending money on free agents. But not sure you have to match them talent for talent in a given year. Just do your job in the domestic draft, and in Latin America, and beyond, and you’ll have a regular contender. The Guardians do this with consistency. So do lots of clubs, the Tigers now included after retooling their draft staff four years ago.

Remember, also: The Dodgers have a huge (and, in my view, unjust) advantage in recruiting Japanese talent. That’s an area of imbalance I believe should have been included in a new CBA.

Q — I am very impressed with the way the Tigers treat rookies making their first appearance in the majors. The way they bring in the family and put them up for a few days, the tickets, the on-field photo opportunity, plus the scoreboard welcome. Truly first class in every way. Is this a Tigers thing or do all teams do this?

Gary Betz

Ionia, Mich.

A — This is pretty much standard procedure, across MLB circles, Gary. Put it this way: I don’t know of another club that doesn’t do it, at least on a fundamental level. But the Tigers are particularly zealous about making it possible for these kids’ immediate family members to be on hand. Then, as we see, TV makes sure they’re introduced to the audience as fans get a bead on a player and a family at a particularly dramatic moment. It’s always entertaining.

Thanks again, everyone, for the gabfest as a truly unusual year of baseball in Detroit wraps up.

Email: lhenning@tigersintelligencereport.com