Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Originally slated to be part of the Class of 2018 out of Basha High School in Arizona, Workman reclassified and finished in 2017 instead, with the idea that he would head on his Mormon Mission, something his father Widd did in between two college stops and a four-year professional pitching career with the Padres and Dodgers. Instead, Workman headed to his father's second collegiate home, Arizona State, where he's been a starting infielder for two-plus years and had a solid performance in the Cape Cod League last summer.

The 6-foot-4 switch-hitter is big, strong and athletic. He's better from the left side of the plate, both in terms of his approach at the plate and tapping into his excellent raw power. Overall, he's power over hit and needs to cut down on his strikeouts, work more counts and take more walks to become a more well-rounded offensive player. He's a solid-to-average runner, maybe a tick better underway, and he moves better than you'd think. He plays third at ASU in deference to Alika Williams, but Workman played short on the Cape and he could get the chance to play up the middle. He has the hands and arm strength to do it, but with his frame, third base seems a more likely long-term home.

Because he graduated earlier than expected, Workman will be just 20 years old come Draft time, something that should work in his favor. So should his plus makeup, which will allow him to maximize his tools at the next level.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 40

A fourth-round pick out of Arizona State by the Tigers in 2020, Workman has endured a roller-coaster pro career. He struck out 206 times for Double-A Erie in 2022, was sent down to High-A West Michigan for a time in 2023 and returned to Double-A this year, when he was arguably the Eastern League's most productive hitter in his age-24 campaign. After he led the EL in hits (135), extra-base hits (53) and total bases (230) while slashing .280/.366/.476 with 18 homers and 30 steals in 126 games, the Cubs grabbed him in the Rule 5 Draft at the Winter Meetings in December.

The most notable adjustment Workman made to take off at Double-A was abandoning switch-hitting. The 6-foot-4 infielder hits exclusively from the left side now, and while he still struggles against southpaws, the focus on a single side of the box has done wonders for his overall performance. Utilizing a quiet load, he’s cut his strikeout rate from 38.8 percent in Double-A last year to 27.5 percent in 2024, and he continues to do a solid job of lifting the ball in the air to his pull side, allowing his raw power to play comfortably in games. 

Workman always had a decent floor because of his above-average speed, overall actions on the dirt and impressive arm strength. He’s a solid defensive shortstop as is but has got the lion’s share of his work in 2024 at third base, where he’s an even better fit. A late-blooming utility-infield type, he'll have to stick on Chicago's big league roster throughout 2025, or else Rule 5 dictates that he'll have to clear waivers and be offered back to Detroit for half his $100,000 Draft price.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Though Spencer Torkelson was the top prospect out of Arizona State that the Tigers drafted in 2020, they were almost as excited about getting Workman in the fourth round. He was Draft-eligible at age 20 thanks to entering school early, and his sophomore season in 2019 had intrigued scouts before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season tempered evaluations. His pro career to date has shown a fascinating combination of defense, speed and power, including 14 homers, 30 doubles and 30 steals at Double-A Erie last year, but his 206 strikeouts in 515 plate appearances obliterated Erie’s team record.

It’s difficult to find a more polarizing prospect in the system for evaluators than Workman. He moves impressively and handles shortstop well for his 6-foot-3 frame, though some believe he could eventually shift over to third base. He’s an aggressive, instinctive base runner who has posted back-to-back 30-steal seasons with high success rates. He has solid line-drive doubles power with enough carry for home runs -- when he makes contact. And that’s the issue. He swings hard but struggles with plate discipline, situational awareness and swing consistency, punishing pitches one night and then making no contact the next. The contact issue has worsened each season, reaching peak concerns with a 40 percent strikeout rate at Double-A last year.

Though Workman’s athleticism and defensive acumen keep him on this list, he won’t advance until (or unless) he cuts down on his strikeouts. One evaluator compared his issues to his Detroit counterpart, Javier Baez. But while the Tigers live with Baez’s contact issues, there’s no such patience for Workman. How he addresses his swing could be the difference between becoming a Major League left-side infielder, a part-time utility player or another high-upside infield prospect who couldn’t make the next step.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50

While Spencer Torkelson was the Tigers’ top prize out of Arizona State in the 2020 Draft, Workman was a bit of a hidden gem from the Sun Devils in the fourth round. Workman had enrolled at ASU at 17 years old and was a sophomore standout at age 19 in 2019, but the COVID pandemic ended his 2020 season before he could dig out from a slow start. The Tigers enticed him away from his senior year with a $1 million bonus, then moved him from third base to shortstop, where his defense played and his power was more of a premium.

Workman was a feast-or-famine hitter in his first pro season. He struggled with pitch recognition and was prone to swing-and-miss, but he usually crushed the ball when he connected. His home-run distances at High-A West Michigan rivaled those of Torkelson when he came through earlier in the year. Though Workman focused his offseason on picking up pitches better, he’s unlikely to sacrifice exit velocity for contact. By contrast, Workman’s baserunning was a revelation, helped in part by limits on pickoff throws at Low-A ball. Defensively, he is very good for his size, helped by quick first steps, solid reads and a strong arm. Given the Tigers’ recent emphasis on positional versatility, he could eventually see time back at third.

Workman has earned comparisons to fellow Tigers shortstop prospect Ryan Kreidler, partly for size, but Workman’s athleticism and younger age arguably give him a better chance to stick at shortstop long-term. The Tigers will likely work with him on his hitting approach before sending him to the upper levels of the farm system with an eye on Detroit.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45

One day after the Tigers selected Spencer Torkelson with the top overall pick in the 2020 Draft and classified him as a third baseman, Detroit selected Torkelson’s teammate, who actually played third base at Arizona State. Workman was a standout as a sophomore in 2019 with a .330 average, eight homers and 42 RBIs, but got off to a slow start in 2020. He slipped far enough for the Tigers to pluck him in the fourth round and convince him to turn pro with a $1 million bonus.

Besides being young for a college junior, Workman brings a lot of tools. He’s an outstanding defender on the left side of the infield, athletic for his size and generates impressive power in a switch-hitting bat. He fell in the Draft in part because he struggled to make consistent contact in college, including 21 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances in an abbreviated junior season. He’s a tick above average runner and moves faster than his body frame would suggest. His quick first step helps him more in the field than on the bases.

Like the Tigers moved Torkelson from first to third base out of the Draft to try to put his offense at a more premium position, the team moved Workman to shortstop, a position he played in the Cape Cod League. If he can stick there defensively, he could be a premium player as a switch-hitter with power, even with the strikeouts.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Originally slated to be part of the Class of 2018 out of Basha High School in Arizona, Workman reclassified and finished in 2017 instead, with the idea that he would head on his Mormon Mission, something his father Widd did in between two college stops and a four-year professional pitching career with the Padres and Dodgers. Instead, Workman headed to his father's second collegiate home, Arizona State, where he put himself on the map as a sophomore, batting .330 with eight homers and 42 RBIs, and encored with solid performance in the Cape Cod League. Intrigued by his power potential and overall upside, the Tigers went well above slot value ($1 million) to get Workman in the 2020 Draft after drafting him in the fourth round.

The 6-foot-4 switch-hitter is big, strong and athletic. He's better from the left side of the plate, both in terms of his approach at the plate and tapping into his excellent raw power. Overall, he's power over hit and needs to cut down on his strikeouts, work more counts and take more walks to become a more well-rounded offensive player. He's a solid-to-average runner, maybe a tick better underway, and he moves better than you'd think. Though Workman is a capable shortstop and played there on the Cape, he played the hot corner at ASU in deference to Alika Williams and was drafted by the Tigers as a third baseman. He has the hands and arm strength for either position on the left side, but his frame is better suited for third base long term.

Because he graduated earlier than expected, Workman, at 20 years old, was one of the younger college juniors in the Draft. That youth on top of his raw ability and plus makeup excites the Tigers, who believe Workman will be able to maximize his tools at the next level.

Awards

EAS Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

EAS Player of the Month

Month	Team
08/2024

EAS Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/16/2023

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
08/29/2021

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/23/2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	12/11/2024	Chicago Cubs purchased contract of SS Gage Workman from Detroit Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft.
	09/12/2023	3B Gage Workman assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	07/20/2023	3B Gage Workman assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Erie SeaWolves.
	07/13/2023	Erie SeaWolves transferred 3B Gage Workman to the Development List.
	02/28/2023	3B Gage Workman roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	02/28/2023	3B Gage Workman roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	02/28/2023	3B Gage Workman assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	02/28/2023	3B Gage Workman roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	02/28/2023	3B Gage Workman roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated 3B Gage Workman.
	09/16/2022	3B Gage Workman assigned to Salt River Rafters.
	04/06/2022	3B Gage Workman assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	03/22/2022	3B Gage Workman roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	03/22/2022	3B Gage Workman assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	07/05/2021	3B Gage Workman assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	04/29/2021	3B Gage Workman assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	04/29/2021	3B Gage Workman assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from GCL Tigers West.
	04/29/2021	3B Gage Workman assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	06/19/2020	3B Gage Workman assigned to GCL Tigers West.
	06/19/2020	Detroit Tigers signed 3B Gage Workman.
	02/13/2018	3B Gage Workman assigned to Arizona State Sun Devils.