Top prospects Burrows, Hill show potential

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — Beau Burrows went into his first Spring Training trying to meet fellow prospects in the Tigers’ system. He ended up meeting Michael Fulmer.

Fulmer had just been optioned from big league camp, and his only experience in the organization was at Triple-A Toledo last August. He was still learning the system.

“[Burrows is] a good guy,” Fulmer said. “I didn’t know that he was that high of a Draft pick [at No. 22] and well-known in the organization. It’s good to get to know guys like that.”

They ended up becoming friends, meeting again last month in Detroit. For Burrows, Fulmer also ended up becoming a role model.

“I’d always make sure to watch him when he’s pitching,” Burrows said. “It’s awesome watching him do well. I’d always ask him what he does, if he does anything differently. It makes me want to work on the same things that he does.”

Derek Hill, Burrows’ Class A West Michigan teammate, has his own mentor of sorts in Torii Hunter, the Tigers’ right fielder when Hill was drafted 23rd overall in 2014 and a fellow client of agent Larry Reynolds. To watch Hill patrol the outfield or glimpse the highlight reel’s worth of catches he has made brings reminders of Hunter.

“I just love defense,” Hill said. “I’ve always been super passionate for it.”

Burrows and Hill ended up remaining in Detroit’s farm system at the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. In a market in which Major League-ready prospects were in demand, the Midwest League seemed like a long way off. For the Tigers, this was …

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