Casey Crosby

Once a highly-touted arm in the Tigers' farm system, numerous elbow injuries and lackluster results have caused Crosby's stock to fall some in recent years. Crosby spent most of the 2012 campaign in Triple-A Toledo, where he went 7-9 with a 4.01 ERA and 112:65 K:BB ratio in 125.2 innings. He also saw his first cup of coffee in the majors, racking up a 9.49 ERA in three starts for the Tigers. The lanky lefty still sports a mid-90s fastball and a quality breaking ball, but his command continues to be a concern. He gave away fewer free passes than the previous season, but with 4.7 BB/9 and 1.7 K/BB ratios, there is still plenty of improvement to be made. The Tigers' rotation depth will likely keep Crosby from making any long-term stints with the team in 2013, but he will be one of the first options considered if a spot starter is needed.

After an elbow injury derailed his 2010 campaign, Crosby stayed relatively healthy in 2011, finishing 9-7 with a 4.10 ERA, 1.517 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 131.2 innings with Double-A Erie. Crosby flashed a mid-90s fastball and a solid curve, but he has had trouble polishing his change-up. He also needs to work on his control after walking 5.3 BB/9IP. The 6-foot-5, 200, lefty remains one of Detroit's best pitching prospects and could sneak into the discussion if the team needs a fifth starter during spring training, but he would benefit from another year working on his control and building up arm strength in the minors after seeing a limited workload last season.

Crosby's 2010 season was derailed by injuries. The 22-year-old managed just three starts with High-A Lakeland before being shut down with recurring swelling in his left elbow - the same elbow he had Tommy John surgery in November 2007. Luckily, the injury did not require surgery and he should be at full strength this spring. While his constant elbow troubles rightfully draw concerns about his durability, Crosby still remains one of the Tigers' best pitching prospects. With a mid-90s fastball and improving secondary pitches, the big lefty (6-5, 200) will warrant plenty of attention in keeper leagues if he can prove his elbow problems are a thing of the past and succeed at the higher levels of the minors.

After taking a full year off to recover from Tommy John surgery, Crosby returned in dominant fashion last season. In 24 starts for Low-A West Michigan, Crosby finished 10-4 with a 2.42 ERA and 117:48 K:BB ratio in 104.2 innings. The big lefty (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) took home the Tigers’ minor league pitcher of the year honors as a result. The buzz surrounding Crosby is warranted – he’s a lefty who throws in the mid-90s with developing secondary pitches. He’s expected to throw at the higher levels of the minors in 2010, but keeper league owners should already have this top-of-the-rotation talent on the radar.

Crosby was a second round talent but fell to the Tigers in the fifth round of the 2007 draft due to signability concerns. He underwent Tommy John surgery before ever throwing a pitch in the Tigers minor league system. The team expects him to be full healthy to start this coming season and reports this offseason noted that Crosby was touching 97 mph with his fastball and averaging 95 mph. He's considered by most to be the second most talented starter in the Tigers' system after Rick Porcello.

Crosby was a second round talent but fell to the Tigers in the fifth round of last year’s draft due to signability concerns over a University of Illinois scholarship. He didn’t pitch at all for the Tigers before suffering an arm injury and requiring Tommy John surgery. Crosby will miss the entire 2008 season but is expected to recover fully and be ready to pitch in 2009.