The top of the West Michigan Whitecaps lineup has been a problem for Midwest League pitching staffs for months. Teaming up Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle and Josue Briceño will have that effect. “It's really cool playing with these guys, these prospects we have, the younger guys,” Whitecaps outfielder Seth Stephenson said last month. “They're unbelievable. … Hitting’s contagious. When you’re in the lineup, you’re probably getting five at-bats a night.” Not only are they three of the Tigers’ top four prospects, they’re all in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 -- Clark at No. 7, McGonigle at No. 21, Briceño at No. 73. They’re a big reason why the Whitecaps not only have run away with the Midwest League’s best record, but the best run differential at +181 runs entering Tuesday, better than two runs per game over their 74 games to date and three times better than the league’s next-best run differential at +55. West Michigan’s 443 runs scored are 35 more than any other team in the league. “You kind of have to pick your poison of who you're going to go after in RBI situations,” Whitecaps manager Tony Cappuccilli said. The rest of baseball will see what High-A pitching has had to deal with when the trio takes their talents to the Futures Game later this month. All three will represent the American League on July 12 at Truist Park. |
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To put this in perspective: The Tigers and Mariners are the only Major League clubs to send three prospects from their entire system to this annual prospect showcase, a great leadoff event for All-Star festivities and a first glance for many fans at baseball’s future stars. To get three players from one affiliate is historic. “This team is so good,” Briceño said last month. “I think the most important thing with Clark and Kevin is these guys get better every day, always. To continue my career with these guys, it’s amazing.” The Whitecaps hadn’t sent any active player to the Futures Game since Joe Jiménez in 2015. Now they’re sending three for the first time in team history. “Now the entire baseball world will be treated to what West Michigan has been experiencing all season long here,” Whitecaps vice president/general manager Jim Jarecki said in a press release. All three have their individual numbers to state their cases. But all three have been stronger playing together. Clark, the Tigers’ top prospect, was part of the Futures Game last year at Globe Life Field, where his custom cleats were eye-catching. Shortly after that game, he moved from Single-A Lakeland to West Michigan, where he has established himself as an elite table-setter atop the Whitecaps' batting order. |
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Clark’s .426 on-base percentage entering Tuesday not only ranks second in the Midwest League, it’s in the top five among all High-A hitters across baseball, bolstered by his league-leading 61 walks. His 45 runs rank in the league’s top 10, but so do his 42 RBIs.
While Clark is a familiar face at the Futures Game, McGonigle gets a well-deserved showcase for his talent. The fellow 2023 first-round Draft pick missed just over a month with a right ankle sprain sustained on Opening Day, but he has dominated since his return to West Michigan in mid-May. His 1.083 OPS is second-best among Minor League full-season hitters with at least 150 plate appearances. His 18 doubles are tied for third-most in the league, two off the lead, despite just 126 at-bats.
“This guy is very complete,” Briceño said last month. “He has defense. He can run. He’s a very good hitter.”
Briceño’s talents were chronicled last week, and he hasn’t let up. His .995 OPS is 81 points better than the next-highest qualifier in the league. His 14 homers also lead the league, and his 51 RBIs are second. Having hit the spotlight in last offseason’s Arizona Fall League, where he won a Triple Crown and MVP honors, he now gets a bigger spotlight.
“All the power behind his swing, whenever he touches the ball, it's going to be hit hard,” McGonigle said. “It's truly awesome to watch.”
Put them together, and it’s a formidable trio. They could move to Double-A Erie soon, maybe after the Futures Game. But for now, they’re representing West Michigan and the Tigers like never before. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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• Triple-A Toledo: The Mud Hens are home for three games against the Columbus Clippers beginning Tuesday night after opening the second half of their season by going 2-4 against Charlotte. No. 10 prospect Troy Melton struck out 17 batters over 10 innings across a pair of starts, allowing two earned runs on nine hits. No. 6 prospect Hao-Yu Lee went 6-for-20 with two homers and three RBIs for the week. • Double-A Erie: The SeaWolves are 4-2 to start the Eastern League’s second half after taking their road series at Yankees-affiliated Somerset. No. 21 prospect Max Anderson went 11-for-24 for the series with three doubles, four RBIs and just two strikeouts. No. 25 prospect Justice Bigbie went 10-for-20 for the series with three doubles and seven RBIs, including a 3-for-4, two-double, four-RBI performance in Sunday’s series finale. • High-A West Michigan: The Whitecaps, who won the Midwest League’s East Division title for the season’s first half, are 8-1 to open the second half after taking five of six at Guardians-affiliated Lake County last week. Peyton Graham, the Tigers’ second-round pick from the 2022 Draft, went 8-for-22 for the series with three home runs, two doubles, a triple, nine RBIs and seven runs scored. He even stole three bases in four attempts. • Single-A Lakeland: The Flying Tigers are on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping a six-game series from Clearwater at Joker Marchant Stadium, allowing six runs for the entire series. Lucas Elissalt, the Tigers’ 13th-round Draft pick from last summer out of Chipola College, extended his scoreless streak to 16 2/3 innings with his third consecutive scoreless outing, tossing 4 2/3 innings on one hit with four walks and five strikeouts in a 1-0 win Friday. |
Time is running out to put Tigers in the starting lineup for the All-Star Game later this month in Atlanta. Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Javier Báez are all finalists for starting spots -- Greene and Báez in the outfield, Torres at second base. Vote once per day before the polls close Wednesday at noon. |
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