Some of Tigers' top prospects among non-roster players invited to spring training

Lakeland, Fla. — The kids are coming to camp.

Seven of the Tigers’ best upper-level prospects are among 18 non-roster players invited to big-league camp, which begins with pitchers and catchers reporting next Wednesday. And of those, one has a strong chance of making the team out of spring training and at least four others could make their big-league debuts at some point this season.

Outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy, acquired by the Tigers from the Braves for reliever Joe Jimenez last offseason, is expected to be in the hunt for one of the final spots on the Opening Day roster.

A lot has to go right for him, but there isn’t much left for him to prove offensively in the minor leagues. Entering his age-24 season, Malloy slashed .277/.417/.474 with an .892 OPS, 23 home runs and 83 RBIs. His defense is work in progress but the fact that he hits right-handed in a left-handed heavy outfield mix, with an open rotation at designated hitter provides a path for him.

Infielder Jace Jung, the club’s No. 1 pick (12^th overall) in 2022, is expected to start the season in Triple A, but if his development stays on pace, he could find himself playing third base in Detroit sooner than later. He’s 23 and clubbed 28 homers with 82 RBIs and slugged .502 between High-A and Double-A last season.

Right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe is maybe only a step behind Jung’s ascension. The No. 1 pick in 2021 (third overall) is coming off a monster season spent mostly between Low-A and High-A. He made one start at Double-A Erie and pitched six scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

He likely will start in Double-A, but he’s climbing fast.

This will be the first big-league camp for both players, as it will be for the other invited prospects: pitchers Ty Madden and Brant Hurter, catcher Eliezer Alfonzo and outfielder Justice Bigbie.

There will be a lot of interested eyes on Bigbie. A 19^th-round pick in 2021, the 25-year-old right-handed hitting slugger put himself on the organization’s radar with a monster season last year, climbing three rungs and finishing in Triple-A, he slashed .343/.405/.537 with 19 homers and 78 RBIs.

Sound familiar? That’s the same kind of year Kerry Carpenter, another 19^th-rounder, had in 2022.

Also coming to camp as non-roster invitees and four pitchers who pitched for the Tigers last season — lefty Andrew Vasquez and right-handers Trey Wingenter, Garrett Hill and Brenan Hanifee.

Catcher Donny Sands, who came to the Tigers from Philadelphia with Matt Vierling and Nick Maton and spent last season at Toledo, is also back as a non-roster player.

Also invited to camp are six older players who’ve had some big-league experience: Right-handed pitchers Drew Anderson (age-30 season, Phillies, Whites Sox, Rangers) and Devin Sweet (27, Mariners, Athletics) and lefty Sean Guenther (27, Marlins), plus catcher Anthony Bemboom (34, Rays, Angels, Orioles), infielder Ryan Vilade (age-25 season, Rockies) and outfielder Bligh Madris (28, Pirates, Astros).

The first full squad workout is Feb. 19.

Here's the positional breakdown of the 18 non-roster players invited by the Tigers to big-league camp in Lakeland, Florida.

▶ Pitchers: RHP Drew Anderson, LHP Sean Guenther, RHP Brenan Hanifee, RHP Garrett Hill, LHP Brant Hurter, RHP Jackson Jobe, RHP Ty Madden, RHP Devin Sweet, LHP Andrew Vasquez, RHP Trey Wingenter.

▶ Position players: Eliezer Alfonzo, Anthony Bemboom, Justice Bigbie, Jace Jung, Bligh Madris, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Donny Sands, Ryan Vilade.

chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky