Detroit, MI
Detroit Tigers put these 27 players on prospect roster for 2025 Spring Breakout game
What’s changed with Detroit Tigers’ player development?
JJ Cooper of “Baseball America” breaks down what shifts have taken place in how the Detroit Tigers develop their players. Full podcast out now.
LAKELAND, Fla. — Center fielder Max Clark, one of the flashiest and most highly touted prospects in baseball, wasn’t invited to the Detroit Tigers’ MLB camp for spring training. Instead, he was assigned to minor league camp.
But Clark will still get his big moment when he steps into the spotlight in the Spring Breakout game.
The Tigers are playing against the Atlanta Braves in a prospect-only matchup, scheduled for 4:05 p.m. March 16 at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. Once again, Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell — a special assistant in the Tigers’ front office — will manage the Tigers in the Spring Breakout game.
It’s the second year of the Spring Breakout showcase in spring training.
The Spring Breakout roster is headlined by Clark, a 20-year-old who hit .264 with a .765 OPS in 34 games in High-A West Michigan in the 2024 season as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
There are 27 players on the roster, including 18 prospects from the Tigers’ top-30 list (as ranked by MLB Pipeline): Clark (No. 2), Kevin McGonigle (No. 3), Bryce Rainer (No. 4), Thayron Liranzo (No. 5), Josue Briceño (No. 6), Hao-Yu Lee (No. 8), Jaden Hamm (No. 9), Troy Melton (No. 13), Franyerber Montilla (No. 14), Enrique Jimenez (No. 17), Jake Miller (No. 18), Josh Randall (No. 19), Joseph Montalvo (No. 20), Michael Massey (No. 21), Roberto Campos (No. 23), Max Anderson (No. 24), Carson Rucker (No. 25), Tyler Owens (No. 29).
Right-hander Jackson Jobe, the Tigers’ No. 1 prospect, is not competing in the Spring Breakout game. Rather, Jobe is focused on winning a spot in the Tigers’ Opening Day starting rotation.
Five of the prospects on the Spring Breakout roster made MLB Pipeline’s top-100 prospects list, all position players: Clark at No. 6, McGonigle at No. 28, Rainer at No. 52, Liranzo at No. 81 and Briceño at No. 94.
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2025 Spring Breakout roster
Right-handed pitchers (9): Jaden Hamm, Troy Melton, Josh Randall, Joseph Montalvo, Michael Massey, Tyler Owens, Max Alba, RJ Petit, CJ Weins.
Left-handed pitchers (2): Jake Miller, Micah Ashman.
Catchers (2): Thayron Liranzo, Enrique Jimenez.
Infielders (9): Kevin McGonigle, Bryce Rainer, Josue Briceno, Hao-Yu Lee, Franyerber Montilla, Max Anderson, Carson Rucker, Jake Holton, John Peck.
Outfielders (5): Max Clark, Roberto Campos, Seth Stephenson, Nomar Fana, Brett Callahan.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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The Pistons have made recent moves to add more shooting, but still don’t have anyone quite as lethal as former Detroit guard Luke Kennard. On Saturday night, Kennard had a brilliant start to his postseason with 27 uber-efficient points for the Lakers in a win against the Rockets. His level of 3-point accuracy is something the Pistons have desperately been seeking all season long to bolster their offense.
Luke Kennard’s shooting makes him a dangerous playoff performer
Kennard was originally drafted to Detroit with the 17th pick of the 2017 Draft. The Pistons have plenty of draft regrets from that general era of team history, but picking Kennard has never been one of them. Despite any other weaknesses he may have, his strength as a shooter has always been enough to offset them.
In terms of pure 3-point percentage, Kennard is one of the best shooters in NBA history. He averages 44% behind the arc for his career, and shot a blistering 48% this season – the best mark in the league. Given his incredible track record, it’s not exactly a shocker to see him shoot 5-of-5 from three en route to 27 points in Game 1.
Not only is Kennard obviously an excellent standstill shooter, but he’s also a master of getting himself open with his movement. On Saturday night, he was able to play off LeBron James perfectly for a few easy looks. After that, he caught enough of a rhythm to create 3-point looks for himself, even in transition.
A player like Kennard is easily capable of turning an entire playoff game when he gets hot. In a close series, that one game where Kennard hits several threes can be all the difference his team needs to advance. If the Lakers do manage to win this series, even without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves, Kennard’s shooting will be a major reason why.
The Pistons could use someone like Kennard
Kennard would be a perfect marginal addition for the Pistons that only makes them better without taking anything away from the team. To be fair, the Pistons do have two shooters who have been hot recently in Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter. But having more than one respected shooter on the court at a time is often necessary to maintain a solid offense in today’s NBA.
Given the Pistons’ current lack of shooting, any additional shooters are welcome. And Kennard is understandably one of the most feared shooters in the league, capable of bending defenses just by the threat of him taking a three. Rolling him out on the Pistons would surely open up more lanes for Detroit’s stars to attack the paint and score easier points.
Follow
A Detroit woman was arrested in the aftermath of a hit-and-run collision and shooting on Interstate 94, Michigan State Police reported.
Emergency dispatchers were called shortly after midnight Saturday about the altercation. Troopers reported the caller said while they were driving eastbound on I-94, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a black Jeep sideswiped them and sped off.
The caller then decided to follow the Jeep.
In response, police said, the driver of the Jeep fired several gunshots in the caller’s direction.
None of the gunshots struck the vehicle.
Troopers were able to use license plate reader camera technology to locate the Jeep while it was on the Lodge Freeway, made a traffic stop. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody without incident.
The passengers were released shortly afterwards; troopers believe that the 19-year-old driver was the shooter. She has been lodged pending further review by the prosecutor’s office.
In addition, a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.
The above video originally aired on Aug. 19, 2025.
NBA playoffs best matchups
Breaking down the best first-round NBA playoff matchups.
Who is favored in the NBA playoffs odds for Game 1 between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic?
Here’s what you need to know about NBA playoff betting odds for the NBA game between the No. 8 seed Magic and No. 1 seed Pistons, which is being played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
What is the point spread for the Pistons vs Magic game?
What is the moneyline for the Magic vs Pistons game?
What is the over/under (point total) for betting on the first-round NBA playoff matchup?
NBA playoffs odds: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | NBA championship odds | Game odds
Watch Magic at Pistons on Peacock
Magic vs Pistons odds: What is point spread?
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Detroit Pistons are an 8.5-point favorite over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series.
NBA playoffs Game 1 predictions, picks: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | The Republic’s score projections
Pistons vs Magic odds: What is moneyline?
BetMGM Sportsbook lists Detroit as -375 on the moneyline for the first-round NBA playoff game. It has Orlando at +290.
NBA playoffs series schedules, TV channels: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | Daily schedule | First-round matchups
Magic vs Pistons odds: What is over/under?
The point total for the opening game of the NBA playoffs series between the Pistons and Magic is listed at 218.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.
NBA playoffs series picks, predictions: Knicks vs Hawks | Cavaliers vs Raptors | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Lakers vs Rockets | Spurs vs Trail Blazers | Celtics vs 76ers | The Republic’s predictions | NBA playoff bracket
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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