May 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) hits an RBI double in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
2010 MLB Draft
Nick Castellanos, 3B – Archbishop McCarthy High School
Chance Ruffin, RP – Texas
Nick Castellanos’ time in the big leagues hasn’t been a wild success, but at just 23 years of age, he still has time to develop as a major league hitter. Showing the ability to improve defensively from year one to year two was a big step, but he was always going to go only as far as his bat would carry him.
If Castellanos can mold himself into even an average regular at third base, this pick will go down as a successful one.
Chance Ruffin climbed from AA to AAA to the major leagues the year after he was drafted, but only pitched 3.2 innings with the Tigers before being sent away in one of Dave Dombrowski’s famous deadline deals. Along with lefty Charlie Furbush and infielder Francisco Martinez, Ruffin was sent to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Doug Fister.
Fister, as we all know, had tremendous success with the Tigers right away and was a critical member of the strong starting rotation that made the postseason in each of his three seasons with the club.
Ruffin pitched for the Mariners some that season, and then for another stint in 2013, but ultimately called it a career last year when he announced his retirement. Furbush turned himself into a solid MLB reliever, but Martinez never cracked the big leagues with the Mariners (and ended back with Detroit after Seattle released him from their system) making the trade a huge win for the Tigers.
Next: 2009 MLB Draft: Jacob Turner