Detroit Tigers: Mock draft roundup on first day of 2017 MLB Draft
By Matt Snyder
The Detroit Tigers will make their first pick tonight as the 2017 MLB draft begins with the first and second rounds. Here’s who the experts think they’ll take in the first round.
The Detroit Tigers will make their first picks of the 2017 MLB Draft tonight as teams make their first and second round selections. The Tigers will make two picks tonight with overall selection numbers 18 and 57.
Here’s a quick look at who the experts think the Tigers will be targeting with pick number 18 in the first round tonight. Click on the author or publication’s name to view the complete list of picks.
Eric Longenhagen | FanGraphs
Sam Carlson, RHP, Burnsville High School (MN)
"A hard-throwing prep righty with a protoypical build, Carlson is very much Detroit’s style. I’ve heard they could start the run on the next tier of prep outfielders here, too, either with Puerto Rican CF Heliot Ramos or Georgia high schooler Drew Waters."
The Tigers have a reputation of drafting big power arms early in the draft, so it’s no surprise to see a 6-4 right-handed pitcher here. The Tigers have taken tall high school righties in the first round in each of the last two seasons — they picked Matt Manning last year and Beau Burrows in 2015.
Baseball America Mock Draft 4.5
Nate Pearson, RHP, Central Florida Junior College
"This is the ceiling for North Carolina shortstop Logan Warmoth, but we’re sticking with Friday’s selection here."
On Friday, Baseball America released their Mock Draft 4.0 list in which they projected Nate Pearson to the Tigers. Here’s what they said about him in that post.
"One pitcher rising up boards of late, righthander Nate Pearson of Central Florida JC, had a fantastic workout at Detroit’s Lakeland spring-training home. The physical righty, who hit 100 repeatedly in the workout with an upper-80s slider, could be an option higher than this, perhaps as high as five. He’s committed to LSU and may not come cheap, as he could pitch in the SEC next season and go out as one of the top college arms."
As might be expected with a young pitcher who can throw 100 mph, Pearson reportedly has trouble with the consistency of his secondary offerings. The bigger challenge sounds like it’ll be in signing him away from his college commitment. The Tigers’ bonus slot is just north of $3.2 million for the pick. Pearson could turn that money down if he thinks he can improve his draft stock and command $5+ million a year from now.
Jim Callis | MLB.com
D.L. Hall, LHP, Valdosta High School (GA)
"Detroit likes pitchers with strikeout stuff, and Hall qualifies and would be the top-ranked prospect left on the board. JC of Central Florida flamethrower Nate Pearson and Minnesota high school right-hander Sam Carlson are two more mound options. The Tigers will consider bats such as Pratto, Burger, Thompson and Georgia prep outfielder Drew Waters."
Callis mentions Pearson and Carlson as possibilities — the two selections above — and had them both on the board but opted to project D.L. Hall to the Tigers. The slender left-hander reportedly sits in the low 90s but can tough 95 at times.
Jonathan Mayo | MLB.com
Seth Romero, LHP, No school
"Warmoth is mentioned quite a bit in this spot and is a strong candidate to go here. Romero does have questionable makeup, but he does have the arm and stuff of a top 10 pick."
Romero would be an interesting pick for the Tigers. The hard-throwing lefty was dismissed from the baseball team at the University of Houston this season after multiple suspensions for a combination of failed drug tests and various violations of team and athletic department policies.
The Tigers might have been more inclined to take a chance on a top talent if they already had a deep farm system, but they’re thin on top talent and really can’t afford to swing and miss with a first round pick with an organizational rebuild threatening on the horizon.
Next: Detroit Tigers All-Time 25-man Roster
According to Baseball America, the Tigers have a bonus pool of just over $6,500,000 with which to sign their draft picks.