Detroit Tigers: Jud Fabian’s power might be worth a look at third overall

The Detroit Tigers possess the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft this summer, where they will be praying for a pitcher from Vanderbilt to fall. There is a very high likelihood that Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are selected back to back, one and two, leaving the Tigers “scrambling.”

With the assumption that Leiter and Rocker go one-two, the Detroit Tigers are left with a “who do we take now” situation. In the case of the MLB Top Draft Prospects list, the answer is a high-school hitter, Jordan Lawlar from Jesuit Prep School in Texas.

However, the Tigers could dip down the rankings a little bit and select outfielder Jud Fabian from the University of Florida Gators baseball team. Fabian is off to a roaring start in the power department, among college baseball’s best when it comes to the longball.

He is in the top ten in the country for home runs as it stands currently with 11 home runs over 32 games played for the Gators. The MLB list has not been updated since the Spring season has begun, so Fabian could very well be higher up on this list than eighth, where he currently sits.

The Detroit Tigers should be giving outfielder Jud Fabian a look with the third overall selection.

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Fabian is a top-flight talent who is going to be selected in the first round; the question is how high will he go.

The interesting thing with Fabian is that his numbers do not jump off the page at you like in his prior seasons, but his power numbers are higher than he has ever produced.

In 32 games for the Gators over the 2021 season, Fabian has hit .228/.331/.520 with 11 home runs, 15 total extra-base hits, and 29 RBI.

Last year’s season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant Fabian only logged 17 games where he hit .294/.407/.603 with a 1.010 OPS and five long balls.

Fabian is a 6-foot-one outfielder who swings it from the left side. He was quite talented in high school but opted to enroll with Florida, where it took some time to settle in.

He is a Junior this year and is poised to be a top selection in the draft. While his slash line may be below his prior year’s production, the power has to be intriguing.

With Riley Greene being a product of Florida (Hagerty High School) as well, there is some intrigue to get these two in the same farm system. Greene has made incredible strides with his hitting; it would be interesting to see how Fabian adjusts in the Tigers system.

There are a few different guys the Tigers need to be looking into, not just players in the top five on prospect lists. It has to be expected that the Tigers front office is going to do its due diligence on a bunch of players to make sure they do not miss the diamond in the rough.

Fabian is one of the players that the Tigers need to do their due diligence on after his hot start to the 2021 season for the Gators in terms of his power. I am not 100% sold that Fabian attracts enough interest at three currently, but again, the Tigers need to do their due diligence on all of these guys.

The power factor sure is exciting; another outfielder with some pop to add to the farm system is gonna draw some eyes; the question is how the Tigers scouts project Fabian to pan out on a path to the big leagues.

Be on the lookout for the Tigers to be scouting and actively looking at a plethora of players near the top of draft lists as the summer approaches. Let’s be clear if Leiter or Rocker is there at three; the Tigers are stupid not to take the Vanderbilt products.