Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

2/8/2012 at 8:30am

There will be no shortage of big names on the Detroit Tigers roster for 2012.

But it’s a name not on the roster yet that most intrigues Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski entering spring training. It’s former Razorback and Little Rock Central product Drew Smyly that Dombrowski touts as having his attention as the Tigers search for a fifth starting pitcher.

Here’s more from the Detroit Free Press:

“Some people in our minor league system, and I don’t know if they’re right or wrong, they think he’s ready to pitch in the big leagues right now,” Dombrowski said at the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association’s Detroit Tiger Day.

Dombrowski said he hasn’t seen Smyly pitch enough, but last season’s Tigers minor league pitcher of the year still is a dark-horse candidate to win the fifth rotation spot.

Smyly, 22, is one of five pitchers Dombrowski mentioned today for that fifth spot. The list also includes top prospect Jacob Turner and lefties Andy Oliver, Duane Below and Adam Wilk.

But while Dombrowski said he doesn’t think Below and Wilk have the same upside as Turner, the relatively unknown Smyly could.

Smyly spent last season working with the Tigers’ Class A and AA affiliates. He finished with a 2.07 earned run average.

MILB.com recently chatted with Smyly. Here's Q&A.

Tagged: Little Rock Central TIgers, Detroit Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Drew Smyly