The deadline to protect players from the upcoming Rule 5 draft passed last Wednesday. The Detroit Tigers opted to add six prospects to their 40-man roster, leaving little for other teams to pick from in terms of high-upside talent. The team can’t protect everyone, though, and a few players invariably slip through the cracks. Let’s take a look at who the Tigers could potentially lose when December rolls around and teams make their selections.
RHP Wilkel Hernandez
When the Los Angeles Angels sent Hernandez to the Tigers as part of the return for Ian Kinsler after the 2017 season, he was considered a lottery ticket prospect — young and projectable with a decent fastball and plenty of work yet to be done.