Tigers tab top prospect Jacob Turner to start Thursday

Right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner is considered the top prospect in the Tigers' system and headed into the 2012 season as the consensus No. 14 prospect in all of baseball. Thursday, he'll be recalled to make his season debut against the Cardinals (via Tigers director of media relations).

Turner, 21, is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in 42 Triple-A innings pitched this season. He made three starts last year for the Tigers, putting together an 8.53 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 12 2/3 innings. Still, that was as a 20 year old.

The 6-foot-5 Turner has the hot hand right now, too, as he is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in his last three starts.

Interesting side note: Turner went to high school in St. Louis and grew up a Cardinals fan. Thursday he'll be trying to beat them.

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