Detroit Tigers: Jaden Hill selection at third would keep LSU pipeline active
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers will have to weigh out options when it comes to who they will select with the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. Louisiana State University (LSU) starting pitcher Jaden Hill has drawn some draft buzz leaving him near the top of the leaderboard.
While I wrote yesterday that the Detroit Tigers should be looking to add a hitter to play devil’s advocate, Hill deserves a look too. Now, the thing with Hill is, there is a bit of a connection from one Tigers team to the other.
LSU Tigers head coach Paul Mainieri and Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila have their own connection to one another as it is. Given that, the Tigers have seen a couple of LSU players migrate to the big leagues.
Given this connection and the incredible rise of Jaden Hill, there is a very plausible feeling that hill will be given at least a look by the Tigers scouting department. Hill has been great for LSU and has great stuff. He is more than deserving of draft looks, especially if he gets that dominance on the mound back on track.
The Detroit Tigers could be looking into Jaden Hill to keep the LSU pipeline alive and well in the 2021 MLB Draft.
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The 21-year old right-handed pitcher has already been drafted once, being selected out of high school by the St. Louis Cardinals, who took a chance on him in the 38th round.
Hill honored his commitment to play for the LSU Tigers, where he has spent the last three seasons mowing down hitters.
Hill is a big righty, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 234 pounds. He is a four-pitch guy featuring a fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup.
He has garnered attention, and rightfully so. In 2021 Hill has made five starts where he has a 5.18 ERA which may not be the most ideal; his stuff speaks for itself.
Hill has been lights out the last two years, granted a shutdown left Hill with only 11.2 innings pitched in 2020, but he had not allowed a run to that point, struck out 17 opposing hitters, and featured a WHIP of 0.51.
With Hill, his stuff is loud. He is one of those pitchers like Kumar Rocker that is loud on the mound. His fastball has been run up to 98mph, and he lives in the mid-90s. He pairs that fastball with a cutter that has some nice life to it.
A good change of pace and break from the loud fastball. His change-up is also pretty disgusting. The depth he gets on his fastball, which fades arm-side, allows him to attack that outside edge with lefties in the box. He is not afraid to attack right-handed hitters with his change-up as well.
Hill’s stuff is impressive, and he is going to get more draft buzz and continue to get looks. The 2021 stats are not the most favored of his draft stock, but the Tigers, with the LSU connection they have, could very well be looking into Hill as the draft inches closer.
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I stand by my statement that the Tigers should take a hitter, but Hill’s stuff is intriguing and should definitely be thrown around in the Detroit Tigers front office as they debate which route to go with the third overall pick.