Tigers reestablishing strong Venezuelan pipeline

DETROIT -- While the National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomes its newest electees Tuesday, Miguel Cabrera’s big moment looms about three years away. He becomes eligible for Hall of Fame voting following the 2028 season, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, setting up Tigers fans and Venezuelans for a special summer trip to Cooperstown in 2029.

That could be the same summer that the Tigers’ latest crop of international signings begins to climb the prospect rankings. That includes highly touted catcher Manuel Bolivar and switch-hitting shortstop Oscar Tineo. Like Cabrera, both are from Venezuela, as are catchers Roman Silgado and Yohan Coronel, infielder Steve Gutierrez and outfielders Douglas Olivo, Diego Orro, Santiago Ventura and Edwinyer Martinez. Nine of the Tigers’ 14 signings announced over the first few days of the international signing period are from Venezuela, along with four from the Dominican Republic and one from Colombia.

The numbers looked like one of the Tigers’ international groups from a decade ago, when Detroit boasted one of baseball’s most active pipelines to Venezuela and had a case as Venezuela’s team. Beyond acquiring Venezuela-born stars Cabrera, Magglio Ordóñez, Carlos Guillén, Aníbal Sánchez and Victor Martinez from other clubs, the Tigers had a bevy of Venezuelan-born players come through their organization, including All-Stars Omar Infante, Eugenio Suárez and Avisaíl García.

Detroit was one of the few organizations that had its own academy in Venezuela, and it boasted enough Venezuelan talent to not only compete in the Venezuelan Summer League, but also in the Parallel League, a winter ball version of the Minor Leagues. Political unrest eventually shut down the Summer League along with the academy, and top amateur prospects began traveling to other countries like the Dominican Republic to be evaluated.

The Tigers maintained a heavy scouting presence in Venezuela, but struggled to replicate that success. The pipeline from Venezuela to Comerica Park had less flow, even as the Tigers rebuilt their farm system and constructed a postseason contender with a roster heavy on homegrown talent. The only Venezuelan-born players to make meaningful contributions on last year’s Tigers team were free-agent signing Gleyber Torres and right-hander Keider Montero, a $40,000 signing by the Tigers in 2016. The last few years, however, have seen a resurgence in Venezuela, including 13 signings three years ago.

Four prospects on MLB Pipeline’s most recent Tigers Top 30 list are from Venezuela. Slugging catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño, an $800,000 signing in the 2022 class from Cabrera’s hometown of Maracay, sits on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list. Another catcher/first baseman, Eduardo Valencia, was added to Detroit’s 40-man roster after a breakout summer at Triple-A Toledo, an eye-opening surge for a former $10,000 signing in 2018. Both could find their way to the big leagues within the next year or two.

Right-hander Kelvis Salcedo, a $70,000 signing from the 2023 class, cracked the Tigers’ Top 30 prospects with a dominant 2025 season that included 85 strikeouts over 68 2/3 innings on the strength of an upper-90s fastball and slider. Franyerber Montilla, a $500,000 signing in 2022, is a speedy switch-hitting infielder with a chance to rise if he can make a little more impact at the plate.

While the recent political turmoil in Venezuela created uncertainty leading up to this year’s signing period, it would’ve had little to no impact. Last week’s signings, like most years, were the product of years of scouting and relationship building.

“I would just highlight how happy I am with our staff in Venezuela,” vice president and assistant general manager Rob Metzler told reporters last week. “It is a unique time, and we have a staff that stepped up and answered the challenge.

“... Our staff, the foundation of their job is to evaluate talent. They do an unbelievable job there, but they're incredibly caring and capable, and their attention to detail is great. So that, at a time when we probably would have had more staff fly in for these signings, they were able to handle all the logistics and everything in a smooth manner because of their care, their capability and their support of the players.”

With any luck, Detroit could have another strong Venezuelan presence by the time Cabrera wears the Olde English D into Cooperstown.