Detroit Tigers: Tigers Join Other MLB Teams In Clinching, Sort Of

While most teams are popping bottles, wearing ski goggles, and celebrating a postseason berth, the Detroit Tigers are celebrating something else. The Tigers may not be holding a celebration, but the team’s loss to the Twins on August 25th officially clinched them the first overall selection in 2020.

The Detroit Tigers have not had a season to celebrate about, which fans knew was going to happen entering the season. However, fans can rejoice that the farm system should get quite the added boost after the Tigers have officially clinched the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Amateur First-Year Player Draft. The Tigers loss against the Twins has further sent them into the trenches, but this time something positive finally came from it.

Just a couple years ago the Tigers had a first overall pick that produced Casey Mize who was shut down after some arm discomfort with Double-A Erie Seawolves. The Detroit Tigers are still in the rebuild, the fifth overall selection of Riley Greene in the 2019 MLB Draft is going to be supplemented by the 2020 first overall selection. There will be plenty of talent, and hopefully, like the Baltimore Orioles, the Tigers can scoop up a supposed generational talent hitter.

The Tigers have four games remaining on the schedule and pose a threat to fail to reach fifty wins. After the first pick clinching loss, the Tigers record is 46-112 and has a chance to reach 116 losses if the Tigers fail to win just one game. The worst part about this tragedy of a season is that the end is likely still two seasons away before it turns for the better. Al Avila is going to continue his role as General Manager for now due to the extension he earned in the eyes of Christopher Illitch who extended Avila this season.

The Detroit Tigers will see the departure of a few players this offseason abut will look into some rentals for next year this offseason. The goal should still be allowing some of the younger talent a chance to prove that they can play at the big league level. Drafting a prospect first overall should give the Tigers farm system a much needed offensive boost with the pitching staff among the farm systems being in good shape (especially Double-A Erie).

The question now remains, who will the Tigers be selecting with the first overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft. With the past few picks being Adley Rutschman, Casey Mize, Royce Lewis, Mickey Moniak, and Dansby Swanson the Tigers need to find their generational talent.

In the coming months, fans need to hope a college player turns into a superstar like Rutschman or some high school kid puts up incredible numbers like Royce Lewis, Tim Beckham, or Justin Upton.