Tigers Prospect Primer: Moya can mash

Some players are on the verge of stardom, others are entering a crucial phase of their development and still others are getting their first tastes of full-season ball. With the 2015 season approaching, MiLB.com takes a look at the most intriguing prospects from each MLB organization.

Shining star: Steven Moya, RF

Only five Minor Leaguers cracked 30 or more homers while driving in at least 100 runs last season, and Moya was one of them. A 6-foot-7 outfielder who weighs 260 pounds, the Tigers' top prospect played 133 games at Double-A Erie in 2014, ending with a .276/.306/.555 slash line, 35 roundtrippers and 105 RBIs.

In addition to home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage, Moya led the Eastern League with 71 extra-base hits and 286 total bases while ranking second with 33 doubles, tied for second with 81 runs scored and tied for third with 142 hits. However, his league-leading 161 strikeouts indicate there is room for improvement.

"I'll tell you what, he's got big-time tools," said Dave Owen, Detroit's director of player development. "He's just a big, strong, physical young man. He can really generate some bat speed. He's one of those guys who doesn't have to pull the ball. He's able to hit the ball out of the park, opposite field."

The 23-year-old Puerto Rico native made his Major League debut on Sept. 1, 2014, and went 3-for-8 (.375) over 11 games down the stretch with the Tigers.

Full-season debutant: Derek Hill, CF

Hill, the 23rd pick of last year's Draft, played 28 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2014 before finishing up with 19 in the Short-Season New York-Penn League. Detroit's second-ranked prospect demonstrated his noteworthy speed by posting an 85 percent success rate on steal attempts (11-for-13), but that's not where his impact ends.

Despite posting offensive numbers that may fail to excite -- .208/.296/.295 with 45 strikeouts against 18 walks -- Hill is believed to have more than enough contact ability to be a dependable leadoff man.

"Obviously, getting Derek last year in the Draft, we were excited about it," Owen said. "You don't get a good look when it's just a half season, the partial season of the New York-Penn League. He's been down here early in Florida for a few weeks now. He's in minicamp. He looked good. This guy can really run, and he's got all the tools. We're looking forward to a good year from Derek."

Major League-ready: Buck Farmer, RHP

Tigers fans got to know Farmer in a hurry last year as the 2013 fifth-round pick was called up to make four appearances (two starts) with Detroit toward the end of season. Before his Major League debut on Aug. 13, the right-hander had thrown 103 2/3 innings at Class A West Michigan, 12 at Double-A Erie and none at Triple-A Toledo (though he would make two starts for the Mud Hens before season's end).

Over 123 innings spanning 22 Minor League starts, the Tigers' No. 3 prospect went 12-6 with a 3.07 ERA, racking up 129 strikeouts while issuing only 32 walks.

"He's a hard-working kid, a guy with a power arm," said Owen, adding that Farmer was in the conversation for a big league roster spot before being optioned to Triple-A on March 26. "Again, he's a guy that gets it."

In his first taste of the big leagues, the recently turned 24-year-old surrendered 12 runs over 9 1/3 innings. He should get a chance to build on that unsatisfying first impression sometime in 2015.

Breakout prospect: Javier Betancourt, 2B/SS

After posting an .800-plus OPS in back-to-back seasons of Rookie ball in 2012-13, Betancourt saw his numbers slip last year during his first season of pro ball, though not drastically. He hit .269/.307/.344 with six homers and 54 RBIs.

In any case, the Tigers are not discouraged. They liked the way their No. 11 prospect handled the Class A Midwest League and have high expectations entering the coming season. Solid in the box as well as the field, Betancourt could very well put up stellar numbers across the board in his second full season.

"He had a nice year at West Michigan last year," Owen said. "[He's got] good instincts for the game ... advanced hitter."

At the crossroads: Endrys Briceno, RHP

Briceno, Detroit's No. 18 prospect, made just three starts at Class A Advanced Lakeland last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the rest of the year. A lanky righty with an above-average fastball, the Venezuela native should accomplish big things when he gets back on the mound.

"He's not quite ready," Owen said. "He could be ready to go, hopefully mid-summer. If he is, we'll be really excited to have him back."

In six Minor League seasons, Briceno has recorded a 15-22 record and 4.76 ERA with 200 strikeouts against 123 walks. Having never reached Double-A and now 23 years old, he could be considered behind developmentally, with ground to make up if pitching in the Majors is to remain a possibility.

More to keep an eye on: Kevin Ziomek and Austin Kubitza -- Detroit's No. 4 and 6 prospects, respectively -- were anchors on a West Michigan staff that was among the most effective in the Minors a season ago. With their performances, the lefty Ziomek (10-6 record, 2.27 ERA and 152 strikeouts) and righty Kubitza (10-2, 2.34, 140) put themselves sqaurely on everyone's radar, summoning huge expectations moving forward. ... A second-rounder last year and Detroit's No. 7 prospect, Spencer Turnbull is a polished, hard-throwing right-hander with stuff that could allow him to move quickly through the system. He threw just 31 1/3 innings last year in the GCL and NYPL, fanning 23 and walking 15 while compiling a 4.31 ERA. ... Tigers No. 9 prospect Tyler Collins showed he could handle the Major Leagues over an 18-game stint in 2014, and the versatile outfielder shouldn't have to wait long for another crack. Over 121 games at Triple-A a year ago, he hit .263/.335/.423 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs.