The folks at Scout.com have posted a ‘Roundtable’ discussing when Tigers top prospect Cameron Maybin will make the leap into the big leagues. This has been a topic of much conversation pretty much ever since the 2006 World Series ended with many hoping to see him sometime this year. I’d put myself in that camp but I’m usually quite overly optimistic when it comes to prospects abilities.
We all had a chance to see him, at least through a box score, playing with the Major League team during this past spring training before being cut on Monday and sent to the Minor League camp. He had an outstanding spring hitting .429/.520/.905 in 21 at bats. This also has given many on the current team to get a real look at him and the feedback has been primarily positive:
“Eric Davis used to steal 70 bases and hit 30 home runs,” Sheffield said. “And [Maybin] has the potential to do that.”
Do endorsements get much better than that? Leyland has been pretty cautious when it comes to talking about his plans for Cameron, in his on very Jim Leyland straight forward way saying that a September call up is ‘unlikely’:
Right now, we probably don’t feel he would be able to perform better than (Craig) Monroe, (Curtis) Granderson, (Gary) Sheffield, or (Magglio) Ordonez. Do I know that for a fact? No, I don’t. … Could he make the jump? I don’t know. Maybe. But we don’t need to do that right now.
So what do the fine folks at Scout.com think? Well, most believe that it is likely we will see Maybin some time this year while throwing out the fact that Detroit need not be in a rush. Some choice excerpts.
Mark Anderson, Associate Editor, Minor Leagues
Despite Leyland’s comments of late, I think its a veritable certainty that we’ll see Maybin at some point this year.
Paul Wezner, Senior Editor
In all likelihood, I think Maybin will start the year in Lakeland, make his way up to Erie by June, and then get a cup of coffee this September.
Mark also points out that Brent Clevlen is more likely to be called up to fill holes throughout the year or at the end in the case of injury or just major performance issues with Tigers outfielders. The latter of which I don’t see happening.
Anyone else out there want to take a guess at when we will see Maybin with the big league team again? September? Next Spring with a possible shot at the team? Let me know!
I think he has a shot at cup of coffee in September, if they think he can actually perform in a pennant race. I don’t think it’s guaranteed by any means, but he does bring some much-needed speed.
Same with next spring. I don’t think Maybin will be handed a starting job, and I don’t think they’ll carry him if he’s not starting, he needs the at-bats. Leyland does like talent, but I think he also likes Monroe.
To me, I think it’s most likely they’re going to stick with Monroe in 2008 as long he’s productive, but if there’s a letup, Maybin could find himself starting.