DETROIT, Mich. -- In acquiring one of baseball's best closers, the Detroit Tigers had to sacrifice one of their best prospects.
Former West Michigan Whitecap Javier Betancourt was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a trade to send six-time MLB All-Star Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez to the Tigers on Wednesday. The 20-year-old infielder is considered the 11th-best prospect in Detroit's farm system.
In 122 games with West Michigan in 2014, Betancourt hit .269 with 27 extra-base hits and 54 RBI. He was named to the Midwest League's Eastern Division All-Star team.
He spent this past season playing for the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
