Lynn Henning: Tigers Insider

Tigers' fall league players drawing notice

A month in Arizona can do wonders for a hot prospect's stock as a future big leaguer. Consider the cases of Casper Wells and Andy Oliver.

Wells, 24, a hard-hitting outfielder, will join Oliver, 21, a left-handed starter, at tonight's Rising Stars Showcase, which spotlights the best of the Arizona Fall League's performers.

Both men are Tigers minor leaguers, with Wells having had top-prospect status for the past couple of seasons. Oliver came aboard when the Tigers made him their second-round draft pick last June.

Wells keeps it going

Wells is batting .358 in 14 games for the Peoria Javelinas after going 2-for-4 in Friday's 6-4 win over the Peoria Saguaros. He is third in the AFL with a .736 slugging percentage (four home runs, two triples, four doubles) and has a 35-game AFL on-base streak dating to Oct. 9, 2008.

"What's taken place for Casper Wells is just a continuation of what happened during his shortened (2009) season," said Glenn Ezell, the Tigers' director of player development, speaking Friday as he drove to Peoria's game.

Ezell refers to a wrist injury (hamate bone) that cost Wells the first half of his season at Double-A Erie, where he had 15 home runs and 41 RBIs in 311 at-bats.

"He's seeing better pitching out here, and he's still gonna get another 100 at-bats before this season ends," Ezell said. "What I like about him is that he never gives you something to get mad at him about because of something he's done or not done."

Wells came to spring camp last February with at least an outside shot at joining the Tigers at some point during the season. Elbow and wrist problems followed, but they've waned and the Tigers will keep an open mind when Wells shows up in Florida in 90 days.

Oliver 'pleasant to watch'

Oliver is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in seven games for the Javelinas. He has 13 strikeouts in 12 innings, has walked eight, and has an opposing batting average of .234.

"When I saw Oliver for three innings two days ago, what I really liked was the consistency of his fastball," Ezell said. "He not only got it in on the left-hand batters, he got it in on the right-hand batters quickly, also.

"Is he overpowering? No, but he was at 92-94 (mph), which was pretty sweet. I like his temperament. He was very pleasant to watch. ... What I saw the other day, over three innings, was very, very well done."

Weinhardt adjusting

Another of the more impressive Tigers prospects in Arizona has been right-handed reliever Robbie Weinhardt, who has been in the passing lane since the Tigers made him their 10th-round pick out of Oklahoma State (Oliver's alma mater) in 2009.

Weinhardt, 23, had a rough start in the desert but has settled in; he hasn't allowed a run in his last three outings (six innings).

"Everybody got a quick awakening back here," Ezell said of the AFL, which traditionally serves up some of the best young talent in baseball. "And, all of a sudden, is Robbie going to be able to adjust and finish his delivery and keep his arm up? From what I've been gathering, he's made some adjustments, and that's something I can be reassured by."

Iorg struggles

Not all the news for the Tigers at this autumn's Arizona Fall League is good. There is Cale Iorg, a shortstop the Tigers had believed would evolve into an All-Star in the majors.

Iorg, who had a tough time at Double-A Erie in 2009 (.222, 149 strikeouts in 129 games), is batting .171 in 10 games for the Javelinas.

lynn.henning@detnews.com