Turner promoted to Lakeland

As the Grand Rapids Press reported last night, Tigers top pitching prospect Jacob Turner is getting bumped up a rung on the developmental ladder. Detroit has transferred his contract from low Class A West Michigan to high Class A Lakeland.

If this was part of the plan, it wasn’t evident. A month ago, Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski told the paper a month ago that there were “no immediate plans” to move Turner, that their current thought process was to leave him there. Dombrowski did caution, however, that the plans could change as the season moves on.

Turner’s performance apparently changed some plans, though it wasn’t particularly evident in the numbers. The 19-year-old gave up 10 earned runs on 31 hits over 28 innings in his last five starts, striking out 20 batters and walking five. After beginning the year on the disabled list, Turner went 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA as a Whitecap.