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

Lord knows the Detroit Tigers have pitching prospects, and PLENTY of them in the minors, but there’s always the chance that they feel they “can’t pass up” on an arm; Nick Lodolo might be that arm in this year’s draft.

Nick Lodolo is a 6’6″, 186-pound, Junior left-handed pitcher at TCU where he has blatantly stated that he is unfazed by all the draft buzz. Lodolo has a fastball with some sink sitting around 90-94 mph, topping at 96 mph. He also features a beautiful, tight slider with reasonable control and a change-up that has good movement on it which makes him a good look for the Tigers or any team with a top pick in the draft.

His 2019 season offered Lodolo a 6-5 record which featured a 2.48 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP through 98 innings of work. The most impressive stat from Lodolo’s 2019 campaign is his 125 punch outs through 98 innings, alongside a 13.9 K/9 rating for the Horned Frogs. Lodolo could most definitely be a top pick looking at the success he had this year for TCU. Lodolo has faced off against other top pitching prospects in this draft like Alek Manoah out of West Virginia University, and he outpitched him and many others.

There is no for certain standard saying that the Detroit Tigers are going to take a hitter, and if they do not take one, Lodolo might be their guy. Lodolo would head into a minor league system that is overflowing with arms which are on track to the big leagues, it just seems odd for them to take a pitcher, but you truly never know.