"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Tigers AnalysisDetroit Tigers Prospect NotebookDetroit Tigers Game ThreadsDetroit Tigers NewsDetroit Tigers PodcastsDetroit Tigers Prospect NotebookScouting Reports2019 BYB Tigers Prospect #18: Wenceel Perez may be your shortstop of the futureNew http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-pat-neshek-jersey ,33commentsThe teenager thrived against advanced competition this year.ESTShareTweetShareShare2019 BYB Tigers Prospect #18: Wenceel Perez may be your shortstop of the futureWenceel Perez represents hope for better days in Detroit baseball in a few different ways. The young shortstop was one in a series of signings that heralded a shift toward greater investment in the international free agent market. Perez stands out as the first wave of what appears to be a stronger international talent base than we’ve seen in a long time.He also stands out because of his two-way skills at a crucial position. The Tigers have numerous other shortstop prospects, but no one who looks likely to be a quality major league regular. Perez is a long way from the show and still raw, but he represents the best balance and depth of skills at the key positional weakness in the Tigers’ rebuilding effort.BackgroundPerez hails from the Dominican Republic, and was inked for $550,000 as a 16-year-old. As a result of his signing bonus, he was on our radar before playing a game of pro ball. Scouts were praising his advanced ability as a hitter before most had even seen him. So far, Perez hasn’t disappointed.The Tigers started Perez out in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old in 2017. The young shortstop showed off a smooth stroke with an advanced approach and plus contact ability from both sides of the plate. In 2018, his age 18 season, he exploded onto the scene in the Gulf Coast League, posting a 1.006 OPS in 20 games. Perez moved quickly through the New York State-Penn League before wrapping the season with the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he held his own against older competition..StrengthsNot a lot of 18-year-olds look as good hitting against older pitchers as Perez did this season. He has enough discipline to wait out sketchy control, but retains a fairly aggressive approach. And he can flat-out hit. Perez has a quiet, compact swing from both sides of the plate. He keeps the barrel in the zone well, and gets it to the ball consistently. Excellent hand-eye coordination makes him exceedingly difficult to strike out, and while he’s still somewhat slight at 5’11, 170 lbs, average future power isn’t out of his reach.Perez backs the bat, which FanGraphs projects to a future plus hit tool, with plus speed, and the makings of a solid defensive shortstop. He’s not a true burner on the basepaths, but with more experience appears to have the first step and speed to steal 15-20 bases a year in the major leagues. Defensively he’s never going to be Jose Iglesias Robin Roberts Jersey , but he has the first step, hands, agility and arm strength to project as an average defensive shortstop eventually. Work remains to be done on his fundamentals, but defense isn’t likely to hold him back as he progresses toward the major leagues.WeaknessesPerhaps the best attribute Perez has is a general lack of weaknesses. He’s not going to get to the major leagues on his glove alone, but it should be good enough to play at the major league level. Plus speed should allow him to maintain some base-stealing ability even as he fills out. If there’s a weakness, it’s simply a matter of muscle and youth. Currently, FanGraphs rates Perez’s future game power as a 40, well below average. They do grade him as a future 50 raw power, however. The projection isn’t there in his frame to really be a major home run threat, but his contact ability should allow him to maximize his power potential. Currently he sprays hard line drives and groundballs around the field with good power in the gaps. The rest is whether he can continue to add good muscle in the years to come without losing the athleticism that allows him to handle the shortstop position.Perez has the developing strength and bat speed to produce some power and handle more advanced pitching, but he’s not likely to develop into a home run threat on the order of a Francisco Lindor. So don’t start taking bets on his All-Star appearances. And while his glove should play, he’s not going to generate a lot of extra value defensively. Solid defense at a premium position is the ceiling here. His chances of developing into an above average player lie almost entirely with his bat. But his advanced hit tool and overall well-roundedness bode well for his continued development on that front. Perez has a long way to go, but he stands out among the other shortstops in the Tigers’ system as the one most likely to succeed.Projected 2019 Team: Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps Some are already ranking Perez among the Tigers’ top 10 prospects. We’d like to see a year of A-ball first, but it’s entirely possible that Perez rockets toward the top of our rankings over the course of the 2019 season. Either way, fans in West Michigan have a fun year to look forward to. Perez should be the Whitecaps starting shortstop this season, and between he and young outfielders like Parker Meadows and Kingston Liniak, they have the makings of a solid core of young position players. If Perez can shore up his defense a little and acclimate to the grind of full season ball, he may be making top 100 prospect list appearances this time next year. Santa Paws is coming to town."It’s the holiday season! We’re in the midst of Hanukkah, and the countdown to Christmas is on, so if you’re only starting your shopping now, you are likely looking for someone to tell you what to buy. We’ve got you covered.There are a lot of incredible and unique gifts out there for the Tigers fan in your life Tug McGraw Jersey , and maybe a little something to slip in your own stocking. So here’s our list of some of the best Tigers-themed gift ideas.Also, our thanks to Thomas at Ballpark Blueprints who has offered up a free Comerica or Old Tiger Stadium blueprint poster to one lucky commenter. (I personally have both of them hanging in my office and they’re beautiful)To WearIt’s going to be tough to pick a new jersey to wear over the coming seasons with players coming and going. But a classic Alan Trammell jersey will never go out of style. Courtesy of mlbshopAlan Trammell Jersey from mlbshopThis requires no explanation.Courtesy of mlbshopTigers Ugly Christmas Sweater at mlbshopArtI have a growing collection of S. Preston’s minimalist work. He also does a series of Ballpark Princesses, if you have someone in your family who loves both Disney princesses and baseball, they’re very sweet. For my money though, he ballpark prints are the best, where he selects a feature of the park and focuses on it entirely. He’s done several Tigers pieces.Pro tip: if you’re on a budget, look for the Postcards section of his shop, where you can get mini versions of the art. The 5x7 Ribba Frame from IKEA fits them perfectly, giving you a cool gallery wall on the cheap!Courtesy of S. Preston artS Preston Minimalist Comerica Park PrintIf you’re a fan of stadium design (and it seems like everyone has an opinion on this lately, with the new plans for Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Arlington being revealed), these next two gift ideas will tickle your fancy.The first is a Ballpark Blueprint of Comerica (also available in Old Tiger Stadium, and general AL parks). This one is such a unique way to show your love of the Tigers. If you don’t have wall space, not to worry! It’s also available on mugs and shirts. Also, bonus, Ballpark Blueprints is giving Bless You Boys readers a discount. If you order anything, just use the code BLESSYOUBOYS and you’ll get 10% off your order. We’re also giving away one of these beauties to a lucky commenter. Courtesy of Ballpark BlueprintsBallpark Blueprints - Comerica ParkAnd if wall art isn’t your thing, but you still want to display something utterly original in your home, or have someone on your list who has everything, this lit 3D model of Comerica Park might just be the coolest thing we’ve ever seen.Courtesy of Stadium Shoppe3D Comerica from Stadium ShoppeFor the HomeWinter is cold. You need a blanket. This one is only $15. Courtesy of mlbshopTigers Fleece Blanket at mlbshopHow cute is this Tigers locker ornament?Courtesy of mlbshopTigers Locker Ornament at mlbshopDigital IdeasNot all gifts can be held in the hand. If you’re shopping for someone who like loves to stay caught up on big Tigers news Drew Hutchison Jersey , or just wants to build baseball knowledge, here are some awesome ideas for subscriptions and memberships:The Athletic: your membership gives you access to all their content, not just for Detroit, and with folks like Jayson Stark, Ken Rosenthal, and Eno Sarris writing there, a subscription is well worth the price. (Bonus, if you’re a subscriber and giving it as a gift, they’ll add three months to YOUR subscription)Baseball Prospectus: these guys are doing some really groundbreaking analytical work, and their Annual, released ahead of each season, is basically the baseball Bible. Support this hard-working team. SABR: Do you know someone who is insanely nerdy about baseball history? A SABR membership will be an incredibly rewarding gift.FanGraphs: No, you won’t unlock any fancy content by becoming a member (though you can select the ad-free option!) but your money will go towards supporting one of the best baseball stat databases on the internet, and help pay for incredible writers like Meg Rowley, Sheryl Ring, Jay Jaffe, and Jeff Sullivan to continue doing their great work. That’s a win.Big SpenderThere’s always season tickets (and mini plans) if you really love someone. Want to win your own Ballpark Blueprint? Just comment below and tell us what you’re planning to get the Tigers fan in your life, and we’ll randomly select one commenter to win either a Comerica or Old Tiger Stadium print (their choice). Winner will be selected Friday, December 7.