Detroit Tigers: 2019 MLB Draft Brings Uncertainty For The Tigers Pick

Arizona State held one of JJ Bleday’s competitors for most pop in his bat this past season with Hunter Bishop blasting 22 home runs for the Sun Devils. Bishop offers plenty of upsides, maybe not as a top-five pick, but he should still be considered if the guy the Detroit Tigers want is not there.

Hunter Bishop is a 6’5″, 210-pound Junior who plays outfield for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Bishop is a part of a Sun Devils team that started off on almost a 25-0 season start. Bishop is a left-handed hitter who has spent his college career trying to find the best stance to be a phenomenal hitter in the box.

According to Baseball America, Bishop has been able to increase his plate discipline, separate balls from strikes better which has helped him decipher the best pitches to put into play, and it has paid off this season. Bishop has a .347/.765/.473 line with 22 home runs and a team-leading 61 RBI. Besides his power, Bishop swiped 11 bags this season and has shown his speed in the outfield by playing a well-rounded outfield.

On the analytical side of things, Bishop has some pretty intriguing statistics that were put together by Trackman data from Arizona State. Bishop had the five-hardest hit balls at Phoenix Municipal Stadium as well as the longest home run this season. His launch angle on that 452-foot bomb was 24 degrees, an absolute moonshot. (Don’t believe it, watch it below!)

Bishop offers a lot on the field, but off the field, he was a two-sport athlete coming up before he chose to focus solely on baseball. His brother is a prospect in the Seattle Mariners farm system right now, and Bishop can only hope to follow in his brother’s footsteps and pave their way to the big leagues. The Detroit Tigers should give this kid a look, an outfielder with MONSTER power can always be coached to “perfection” on his journey through the Tigers farm system.