Tigers 2017 organizational review: Catchers.
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DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have more than 300 signed players at various levels of their organization, but only 25 of them will leave Florida as members of the big-league club.
With spring training just around the corner, we're taking a position-by-position look at the team's organizational depth.
Some of the players might be just one injury away from the big-league roster. Others might be years away from getting a chance.
The list won't be exhaustive but will focus on the players you need to know in the club's minor league organization.
Our daily reviews will start with the catchers.
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James McCann will share catching duties with Alex Avila in 2017. (Mike Mulholland, MLive)
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on February 02, 2017 at 11:21 AM, updated February 02, 2017 at 11:25 AM
DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have more than 300 signed players at various levels of their organization, but only 25 of them will leave Florida as members of the big-league club.
With spring training just around the corner, we're taking a position-by-position look at the team's organizational depth.
Spring is in the air as the Tigers pack for Lakeland
Spring is in the air as the Tigers pack for Lakeland
The Detroit Tigers have started packing for their move to Lakeland, Fla., for their 2017 spring training.
Some of the players might be just one injury away from the big-league roster. Others might be years away from getting a chance.
The list won't be exhaustive but will focus on the players you need to know in the club's minor league organization.
Our daily reviews will start with the catchers.
On the 40-man roster: James McCann, Alex Avila, John Hicks.
McCann pushed Avila into a backup role in 2015 and has since established himself as one of the game's top defensive catchers. But there remain questions about McCann's bat, particularly against right-handed pitchers. Manager Brad Ausmus wants him to cut down on his strikeouts in 2017. If McCann struggles, it's possible the left-handed Avila could steal more at-bats than expected against right-handers.
The Tigers grabbed Hicks on waivers last April and seemed pleased with their acquisition after he hit well in the minor leagues. With options remaining, Hicks will be the team's "third catcher," just a short drive away in Toledo.
Next up: Grayson Greiner.
A third-round draft pick in 2014, Greiner rebounded from a rough offensive season in 2015 to hit well at both Lakeland and Erie in 2016. He received an invitation to spring training and will begin the year in either Toledo or Erie depending on how things shake out.
Any spring battles to watch?: Not really. McCann and Avila will be on the 25-man roster. If one of them gets hurt, Hicks is next in line.
The rest of the vets: Miguel Gonzalez, Austin Green.
Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Venezuelan, was once a minor prospect for the Chicago White Sox. After his time ran out in that organization, he signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers and has been a reliable backstop for the last two years in Erie and Toledo. His bat probably won't get him to the big leagues, but he could fill in in a pinch.
Both Gonzalez and Green, a 26-year-old who was drafted in the 13th round in 2013, were invited to spring training.
The rest of the youngsters: Shane Zeile, Arvicent Perez, Franklin Navarro, Austin Athmann, Tim Remes, Andres Sthormes, Brady Policelli, Moises Nunez.
Perez is top prospect in this bunch after attracting notice during a full season at West Michigan. Zeile was a fourth-round pick out of UCLA in 2014. Navarro showed a glimmer of offense for the first time in 2016 and is only 22.
Athmann was a 14th-round draft pick out of Minnesota last summer and he made his debut at short-season Class A Connecticut, where he split time with Policelli, a 13th-round pick from Towson.
Nunez, only 19, made his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2016 and is also listed as a first baseman.
