Franchise Opportunities in Detroit, MI

The Detroit Tigers will be giving lots of at-bats to young hitters

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has made it a point that he wants to give at-bats to young players. The Tigers have a lot of young hitters, and it seems like they're going to get every chance possible to succeed.

The team also has a lot of prospects knocking at the door of the big leagues. Some of these prospects had big years in the upper minors in 2022 and are ready to take that last step and receive that call-up to the majors.

The Detroit Tigers seem intent on letting the kids play, for better or for worse. They could either be really fun to watch in 2023, or really bad. Nevertheless, quite a few prospects will be making their major league debut in 2023. Here's a look at three of them.

Malloy was acquired in the Joe Jimenez trade during last month's Winter Meetings, and he had a breakout year in the Braves' system in 2022. He flew through the minors last year, going from A-ball all the way to Triple-A by season's end. As Scott Harris said when he acquired him, he's been dictating his own development.

His on-base percentage was over .400 at both High-A and Double-A, with his walk rate ranging anywhere from just under 15% to 18%. He doesn't have a ton of raw power, but he did hit 22 home runs in the minors last year, which suggests that he could be starting to develop some more pop.

Defensively, he's a third baseman by trade, but got some time in the outfield last year. Sadly, there's a reason for that. He had a whopping 24 errors at third base between Low-A and High-A. The Braves moved him to left field when he got to Double-A, where he was much better.

If you really want to get a sense of what Malloy is all about, I highly recommend you watch or listen to this interview that Tigers Minor League Report did with him. Once he starts talking about his approach at the plate and his general routine, I can almost guarentee you will fall in love this kid.

Malloy seems like a lock to make the big leagues this year, and for good reason. He could be a nice bat for the Tigers for years to come.

ELMONT, N.Y. — The Detroit Red Wings ended their dads trip and entered their week off unable to take advantage of a team that has been crumbling.

There wasn't much energy to Friday's outing against the New York Islanders — the Wings' third game in four nights and second of a back-to-back — with fathers and a couple brothers in the stands at UBS Arena. The Wings came out of it on the short end of a 2-0 final, again unable to string together more than two victories in a row.

It was a disappointing way to go into a weeklong break, losing to a team that had won just twice in its previous 13 games. It was 1-0 after two periods but the Wings' shot at rallying diminished when Brock Nelson used Anders Lee as a screen to score early in the third period.

THURSDAY NIGHT:Happy dads, happy Red Wings: It wasn't perfect, but it was another victory in Montreal

The Wings went 0-for-4 with a man advantage and while they were shorthanded four times, too, it hardly mattered against the Islanders, who hadn't converted on their previous 20 opportunities coming into the game. Not even pulling Magnus Hellberg (26 saves) with more than two minutes to spare made a difference.

The Wings next play Feb. 7 at home against the Edmonton Oilers.

Hellberg gets another chance

Hellberg made his first appearance since Jan. 17 at Arizona, when Derek Lalonde called him out for letting in the last two regulation goals, while also lauding Hellberg for his overtime performance. Hellberg got an opportunity to serve as backup as a result of Alex Nedeljkovic's struggles, but he has let in numerous soft goals despite delivering stretches of solid goaltending. When the Wings come out of the break, it's likely they will recall Nedeljkovic, and that could land Hellberg back on waivers.

Lindstrom draws in

Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom likewise was back in the lineup for the first time since the Arizona game. It was only his 21st appearance of the season, after playing 63 games last season. Though he generally plays a simple, smart game, he has had a hard time convincing the new coaching staff to put him in over veteran Jordan Oesterle.

Tough sledding

There wasn't much going offensively from either side through 40 minutes; shots were 18-18. The Islanders took a 1-0 lead early in the second period when Brock Nelson intercepted Olli Määttä's attempt to play the puck up the boards and centered a pass that Kyle Palmieri touched before Anders Lee managed to poke it into Detroit's net, even as he was on his belly. The Wings weren't able to generate much in the way of quality chances against All-Star goalie Ilya Sorokin, but they had some decent looks among nine shots on net their first three power plays.

Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon,Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.

DETROIT -- — Kenyon Martin Jr. had a four-point possession with 31 seconds left to help the Houston Rockets beat the Detroit Pistons 117-114 on Saturday night in a matchup of the NBA's worst teams.

The Rockets had a 16-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, a 21-4 edge in second-chance points and outscored the Pistons 70-42 in the paint.

Houston played without Jalen Green (calf), Kevin Porter, Jr. (foot) and Apleren Sengun (non-COVID illness), while coach Stephen Silas missed the game to attend a memorial for his father Paul, who played and coached in the NBA for 48 years.

“I would say 98% of this win came from hustle and hard work,” Rockets interim coach John Lucas said. “With three key scorers out, I think a lot of guys were excited because the ball would be moving and they would get a chance to play.

“Coach has already texted us about getting a good win. Today was a celebration of his dad's life, but I hope this made it a little easier.”

Eric Gordon led the Rockets (12-38) with 24 points. Martin had 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Tari Eason added 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“This is a really good road win,” Martin said. “We got some stops, made some plays and now we can get out of this cold and get back home.”

Alec Burks had 21 points for the Pistons (13-38). They have lost five of six.

“It seems like all these games come down to the end, but it is all the small things that we aren't doing earlier in games that hurt us,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “We aren't a good enough team to take anyone lightly. We can't do that."

With the Pistons leading 112-109, Martin was fouled as his layup bounced twice off the rim before dropping in. He missed the free throw, but Jae'Sean Tate kept the ball alive and Martin's putback gave the Rockets a 113-112 lead.

“Coaches start teaching you to box out on free throws in junior high,” Casey said. “In that situation, you almost have to be face guarding, because you know they will be crashing with a bad free-throw shooter on the line.”

Jabari Smith Jr. then tied up Burks, and the Rockets won the jump ball.

Gordon hit two free throws to make it 115-112, but Jalen Ivey's layup spun in to make it a one-point game with 10 seconds to go.

Why 679? North American Number Planning Administration explains new code

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DETROIT – The state of Michigan is running out of 313 area codes and may be adding 679 into the mix in the Detroit area by late 2025.

But why 679? Who decided on that code? Local 4 sat down with an expert to find out.

Area code 313 is as recognizably Detroit as the skyline, but phone numbers aren’t infinite.

There are only so many numbers, but who decides when those run out and when a new area code is needed?

Local 4 sat down with Heidi Wayman of the North American Number Planning Administrations (NANPA) to find out.

“We’re neutral, so we’re just the facilitator,” said Wayman. “We filed a petition on behalf of the industry with the state, and then it’s in the state’s hands-on how they want to proceed. If they want to accept the application or petition that’s filed, ultimately that decision is up to them on the final outcome of what is ordered.”

There are a few ways an area code can change.

First, it can be split. This means any new numbers would be under a new area code when the old ones run out. This happened in Macomb County in 2001.

A split is not happening in Detroit. What’s happening to 313 is called an overlay. The new area code will operate in the same area as the old one.

There’s no real reason why numbers are chosen. It’s just first come, first serve as old area codes reach their limits.

“We have set aside numbers for the future area codes,” said Heidi Wayman. “They are set aside 10 years in advance, so we’re looking at things way out.”

NANPA’s job is a bit of a balancing act set up years in advance as populations grow.

Area code 313 is not expected to run out until 2025, but they let people know three years in advance so everyone has time to get ready.

For some, especially those with landlines, a new area code means a new way to dial. A switch from seven digits, or dialing locally without an area code, to dialing 10 digits with the area code.

“If you have a 313 number, you’re calling your neighbor, you could still dial seven digits,” Wayman said. " When 679 is overlaid, most likely, you’re going to have to start dialing 313.”

Area code 313 is sticking around, it just isn’t going to be alone anymore.

The Detroit area code was one of the country’s first area codes assigned in 1947. Those first area codes, think New York, 212, Los Angelos, 213, and Chicago, 312, were set based on how long it would take to dial on a rotary phone.

The more people you had, or how important the city was, the easier it was to dial.

As for the new area code, it still needs to be formally approved, and if that happens, it will not go into effect until 2025.

A public hearing is set for March 9, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Wayne County Community College District’s downtown campus in the Frank Hayden Community room #236, 1001 W. Fort Street in Detroit to take public comment on the proposal to add the 679 area code.

Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

Three Detroit Tigers players were named to prospect lists this offseason.

Right-handed pitcher Jackson Jobe ranked No. 83 as the only representative of the Tigers on Baseball America's top 100. On MLB Pipeline's breakdown of the top 100, Jobe came in No. 63, with second baseman Jace Jung at No. 83 and right-hander Wilmer Flores at No. 95.

The Baltimore Orioles had the most prospects on MLB Pipeline's list with eight players, followed by the Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers (seven), Texas Rangers (six) and St. Louis Cardinals (five). Orioles third baseman Gunnar Henderson was named the No. 1 overall prospect.

The Tigers selected Jobe with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, leaving shortstop Marcelo Mayer for the Bosto Red Sox to nab at No. 4 overall. Mayer reached High-A last season, and ranks No. 10 on Baseball America and No. 9 on MLB Pipeline.

In 2022, Jobe posted a 3.84 ERA with 30 walks and 81 strikeouts over 77⅓ innings in 21 starts for Low-A Lakeland (18 starts) and High-A West Michigan (three starts). After Aug. 17, he owned a 1.56 ERA with eight walks and 13 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings to finish the season.

On a 20-80 scouting scale, Baseball America graded Jobe's tools like so: 60 fastball, 50 curveball, 70 slider, 60 changeup and 55 control.

"Jobe has yet to match the highs expected from him coming out of high school when the Tigers picked him third overall," Baseball America wrote, "but he's a 20-year-old with plenty of projection remaining who showed durability, a plus-plus slider and solid control in 2022."

MLB Pipeline's grades for Jobe on the same scouting scale: 60 fastball, 50 curveball, 65 slider, 55 changeup, 50 control and 55 overall.

"He needs experience to learn how to mix his arsenal because right now, the sum is less than the total of the individual pitch parts," MLB Pipeline wrote. "If it comes together, he has the tools to be a No. 2/3 starter."

MLB Pipeline's report on Jung: 55 hit, 55 power, 40 run, 45 arm, 45 field and 55 overall. For Flores: 60 fastball, 60 curveball, 40 changeup, 50 cutter, 55 control and 55 overall.

The Tigers drafted Jung, a left-handed hitter, with the No. 12 overall pick in 2022 out of Texas Tech. The 22-year-old hit .232 with one home run, 25 walks and 28 strikeouts over 30 games in High-A.

"His lack of range and arm keeps him limited to second base after dalliances at third and short in college," MLB Pipeline wrote about Jung, "and while his hands work for the position, he's still going to need to hit for both average and power to bring impact as an everyday player. Luckily, he has a long résumé of doing just that."

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, whom some executives in the Tigers' organization wanted to draft instead of Jung, ranked No. 53 on Baseball America's list (which didn't include Jung) and No. 89 on MLB Pipeline's (six spots after Jung). The Angles grabbed Neto at No. 13 overall.

Last season, Neto played seven games for High-A Tri-City in Washington state before advancing to Double-A Rocket City in Alabama for his final 30 games. At Double-A, the 21-year-old hit .320 with four homers, eight walks and 29 strikeouts.

Flores, who turns 22 in February, registered a 2.79 ERA with 23 walks and 130 strikeouts in 103⅓ innings over 25 games (24 starts) with West Michigan (six games) and Double-A Erie (19 games). He has spent the offseason working on his changeup in hopes of avoiding a bullpen move in the future.

The Tigers signed Flores for a $20,000 bonus as an undrafted free agent in 2020 out of Arizona Western College.

"After walking 12 (batters) in 11⅔ innings in college, Flores has improved his strike-throwing enough that he should have the above-average control to stick in a starter's role," MLB Pipeline wrote. "He's likely headed to Triple-A to begin his age-22 season and already has the polish to impact the back end of Detroit's rotation by the year's end."

Notable omissions from the top-100 prospect lists: outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy (acquired by the Tigers from Atlanta this offseason), outfielder Parker Meadows, second baseman Wenceel Perez, right-hander Ty Madden, catcher Dillon Dingler, third baseman Colt Keith, third baseman Izaac Pacheco, shortstop Peyton Graham, shortstop Cristian Santana and outfielder Roberto Campos.

MLB Pipeline also compiled top-10 lists for every position. The outlet recognized Jung (No. 3) and Perez (No. 10) at second base, and Keith (No. 8) at third base.