Top 5 Best Detroit Tigers 1st Round Draft Picks

Jul. 3, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Is San Diego Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin one of the Tigers best draft picks? Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

We looked at the Top 5 Detroit Tigers draft busts, now to be fair lets look at the Top 5 best first round draft picks.  Of course the most recent first round picks won’t be included on this list because only time can tell how a player selected in any round will turn out.  That said,   lets look at the 1st round picks that contributed to the franchise as a player or an asset.

1. Justin Verlander – P – J.V. was drafted in 2004 with the second overall pick.  He made his major league debut in 2005.  Verlander’s star started rising during his rookie season after posting 17 wins and winning Rookie Of The Year. He kept adding hardware in 2011 becoming the first pitcher to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same season since Roger Clemens did it in 1986. After it is all sadin and done, JV could become the greatest pitcher in franchise history.
2. Lance Parrish – C –   Originally drafted as a 3rd baseman out of high school, Parrish was picked 18th overall in the 1974 draft by the Tigers.  During his Tigers career Parrish defined the catcher position by becoming a 6x all-star selection. Every Tiger catcher since has been compared to him. Parrish had his best years with Detroit batting .263 and hitting with 212 HR and knocking in 700 RBI.  Fans probably remember Parrish most for the 1984 season in which he hit 33 HR for the World Series Champions.
3. Kirk Gibson – OF – Michigan State’s two sport star brought his abrasive style to the Tigers as a rookie in 1979. He was drafted in the first round 1978 and it took him only one year to reach the majors. Kirk Gibson was a key member of the 1984 World Series Championship team. His world Series performance was stellar hitting .333 with 2 HR and 7 RBI. Gibson saved his best season for the Dodgers in 1988.  That year he won the MVP and hit an iconic blast to lead the dodgers to a World Series Championship.
4. Tony Clark – 1B – Drafted in 1990, Clark was the 2nd overall pick.  Tony Clark’s path to the major leagues took a slight diversion due to injury but he finally made his regular season debut in 1995. He played 7 season with the Tigers batting .277.  He hit 156 HR and knocked in 514 RBI.  Clarkhad three 30 homer seasons while with the Tigers . Two of those seasons he knocked in more than 100 RBI. Tony Clark’s legacy as a Tiger is tainted because of the era he played in.  That said, Clark should be considered one of the best 1st baseman in franchise history.
5. Cameron Maybin (2005)/Andrew Miller (2006) – I grouped these two together not because of what they are but what they became. In 2007 Dave Dombrowski packaged Maybin, Miller three other prospects in a trade for Miguel Cabrera. I think every Detroit Tigers fan would agree,  giving up two first round draft choices in exchange for the greatest hitter of our generation was a good swap. Without the preceived upside of those two picks, the trade would have never have happened.