This post debuts the final Top 15 prospect list of the off-season, the defending American League Central Division champion Detroit Tigers. Because of my continued involvement with scouting and ranking Tigers prospects for TigsTown.com, this post will only contain a listing of the Top 15 players in the system. Brief capsules of each player can be found in two free articles at TigsTown – “Top 50: 20-11” and “Top 50: The Top Ten.” We will continue to run detailed profiles and scouting reports of each of these players at TigsTown over the next month.

At present, the Tigers system remains in the bottom third of baseball as the team has forfeited its last two first round draft choices by signing Jose Valverde and Victor Martinez, and is poised to forfeit another pick after signing Prince Fielder this off-season. The system features two highly touted prospects in Jacob Turner and Nick Castellanos, with a dramatic drop-off behind those two players. For the system to rebound in the absence of a 2012 first round pick and without an ability to go significantly over-slot in the draft, the Tigers will need several very raw young players to take a significant step forward.

1. Jacob Turner (RHP)
2. Nick Castellanow (3B)
3. Danry Vasquez (OF)
4. Casey Crosby (LHP)
5. Drew Smyly (LHP)
6. Rob Brantly (C)
7. Brenny Paulino (RHP)
8. James McCann (C)
9. Tyler Collins (OF)
10. Andrew Oliver (LHP)
11. Avisail Garcia (OF)
12. Tyler Gibson (OF)
13. Josue Carreno (RHP
14. Jason King (3B)
15. Alex Burgos (LHP)