Scouting Report

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

The Tigers haven’t been as active in the Venezuelan amateur market as in past years, but Montilla was a big get in the 2022 class, signing for a $500,000 bonus. He played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, improving markedly at the plate with the extra time before advancing to the States. He got off to a hot start at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League before fading over the summer, and he still finished among the FCL’s top hitters before advancing to Single-A Lakeland in August.

Though Montilla doesn’t have a big frame, his simple swing has a pull-heavy, fly-ball approach that produces extra-base hits for him. He has battled strikeouts at his various stops but has worked to become more selective with his swings and focus on pitches where he can do damage. His approach has the potential for more power as he physically matures, but opinions are mixed whether he’ll eventually be a noted power hitter. He has an aggressive approach on the basepaths but has yet to translate that into triples. Scouts are divided whether his defense will stick long term at shortstop, but he has enough arm to shift to third base.

Like many infielders off the international market, how Montilla is valued depends a lot on whether he sticks at shortstop. The Tigers have several options there at the lower levels, but Montilla’s skill set and switch-hitting bat make him intriguing. He returned to the Florida State League for his age-20 season and played 67 games before suffering a torn ACL that will knock him out for a good bit of 2026 as well.

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

Montilla was one of Detroit’s largest additions in the 2022 international class, signing for $500,000 out of Venezuela. He struck out 28.7 percent of the time during his first season in the Dominican Summer League that year and repeated the level with much stronger results in 2023, namely a .280/.394/.439 line with three homers and a 17.3 percent K rate. He moved stateside for his age-19 season and blew Tigers officials away in the Florida Complex League, finishing in the Top 20 of the circuit in multiple categories despite slowing down toward the end of the summer. He was promoted to Single-A Lakeland in early August.

A switch-hitter, Montilla got a lot more looks from the left side this summer but was more productive from the right with a .308 average and .500 slugging percentage there in the FCL. He keeps things simple at the dish and does a good job of attacking pitches he can drive, resulting in the pulled fly balls that typically can turn into extra-base hits. Listed at 6-foot, 160 pounds, Montilla has room to fill out, but questions still remain about how much impact he’ll provide from that frame. Still, his overall approach should help him hit for a solid average.

The teenager moved around the infield during his first summer on this side of the Caribbean, if only to give other opportunities to play short. Detroit coaches were pleased with his overall actions at the six, however, and his above-average speed is an asset with his moves deep in the hole. He has arm strength for third base, should he need to slide over, and with first-rounder Bryce Rainer also entering the low levels, the Tigers will have a good problem on their hands at shortstop soon.

Awards

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/22/2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/06/2025	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated SS Franyerber Montilla from the full-season injured list.
	08/04/2025	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed SS Franyerber Montilla on the full-season injured list.
	07/22/2025	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed SS Franyerber Montilla on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 21, 2025.
	07/21/2025	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed SS Franyerber Montilla on the 7-day injured list.
	03/11/2025	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Franyerber Montilla.
	08/07/2024	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers.
	05/03/2024	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to FCL Tigers from DSL Tigers 1.
	05/03/2024	FCL Tigers activated SS Franyerber Montilla.
	06/05/2023	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to DSL Tigers 1.
	06/05/2023	DSL Tigers 1 activated SS Franyerber Montilla.
	06/04/2023	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to DSL Tigers 2 from DSL Tigers 1.
	01/17/2022	DSL Tigers 1 activated SS Franyerber Montilla.
	01/17/2022	Detroit Tigers signed free agent SS Franyerber Montilla to a minor league contract.
	01/17/2022	SS Franyerber Montilla assigned to DSL Tigers.