MLB Draft: Detroit Tigers Names to Watch in the First Round
By Matt Snyder
Phil Bickford, RHP (College of Southern Nevada)
Bickford was linked to the Tigers by Jonathan Mayo in the final MLB.com mock draft. Here’s what Mayo has to say about the potential pick of Bickford.
"Bickford was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 Draft coming out of high school, but failed to come to terms with the Blue Jays and has been a bit of an enigma ever since. The Tigers certainly like power arms and Bickford performed very well in the JUCO ranks as a starter this spring after an electric summer as a reliever in the Cape Cod League."
Reports surfaced yesterday that Bickford tested positive for Marijuana in a pre-draft drug test, so it’s unclear what his draft status will be. It might not affect his selection at all, but it’s certainly an interesting last-minute development.
Bickford was drafted by Toronto with the tenth overall pick two years ago, but he did not ultimately sign. There are rumors that he failed a physical, but confirmation of that is scarce, and he’s pitched in college without incident ever since.
Here’s where other draft experts see Bickford going in the draft:
Jim Callis: #33 to Kansas City
Kylie McDaniel: #21 to Kansas City
John Manuel: #27 to Colorado
Christopher Crawford: ranked #33 overall
Next: Scott Kingery, 2B