Andy Oliver

Oliver has been considered one of the Tigers' better pitching prospects over the past few years, but he took a step back in 2011. The hard-throwing lefty struggled in his first full season with Triple-A Toledo, going 8-12 with a 4.71 ERA and 143:80 KK:BB ratio in 147 innings. His strikeout rate (8.76 K/9IP) was the best of his minor league career, but Oliver showed regression with his control by walking 4.90 BB/9IP. As a lefty with a fastball that touches 95 mph, Oliver still ranks highly as a prospect, but he needs to develop his secondary pitches (slider, change-up) and improve his control before he'll be able to have success in the majors. The Tigers are expected to open up the final spot in their rotation to a prospect, so Oliver will have a chance to battle Jacob Turner, Drew Smyly and others for an Opening Day roster spot, but Turner is viewed as the favorite entering camp. Oliver is still worth keeping on your radar in keeper leagues, but the 24-year-old will likely spend most of his time in Triple-A this season.

Oliver made his major league debut in 2010, finishing 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA and 18:13 K:BB ratio in 22 innings. Despite the bumpy start to his major league career, Oliver remains one of the Tigers' top pitching prospects. The 2009 second-round pick out of Oklahoma State University was solid in his stops at Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo last season, compiling a 9-8 record with a 3.45 ERA, 1.281 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 130.1 innings. Oliver is expected to battle for a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster, but he's currently trailing Armando Galarraga in the battle for the final spot in the rotation. It's unlikely the Tigers will use Oliver out of the bullpen, so don't be surprised if Oliver starts the season in Toledo if he doesn't nab a starting role.

The Tigers selected Oliver in the second round of the 2009 draft. He was considered a first-round talent before having trouble with his slider during his third and final season at Oklahoma State. Oliver rediscovered his slider during the Arizona Fall League and looks primed to be one of the Tigers' top prospects. The tall (6-4) lefty already sports a mid-90s four-seam fastball and a major league ready changeup and should make his way up quickly through the minors if his slider doesn’t fade again. Keeper leaguers take notice.