Detroit Tigers: 3 home run picks of the 2021 MLB Draft class

Round 10, Pick 285: Austin Schultz, OF/RHH, Kentucky (NCAA)

As the draft continued on, the Detroit Tigers continued to fill out their draft class from top to bottom. At the end of day two, it really seemed like the Tigers might be copying the Los Angeles Angels game plan, which was to take all pitchers in the 2021 MLB Draft.

With their last pick on day two, the Detroit Tigers selected Austin Schultz, an outfielder (sort of) from the University of Kentucky. This was a phenomenal grab, even this late in the draft. Schultz is a 5-foot-9, 200-pound right-handed hitter.

While he was drafted as an outfielder, he may be more of a spark plug for the organization. He has also played middle infield for the Kentucky Wildcats, logging some time as a shortstop and second baseman.

Besides being a versatile player defensively, Schultz is able to swing it from the leadoff spot too. He played all 52 games of the Wildcats season as the lead-off hitter. He would go on to post a .329/.401/.481 slash line with 19 extra-base hits that helped him collect 26 RBI.

Not to mention, he was active on the basepaths as well, swiping 22 bases on 24 total attempts. While it is only one game, I was able to watch Schultz play when Miami University (Ohio) took on Schultz and the Wildcats in a midweek game in 2021.

He was stationed in left field and wound up going 2-for-4 with a double in the lead-off spot. Schultz poked a single back up the middle that wound up being the beginning of a big inning for the Wildcats. Schultz would come around to score on a big fly a few batters later.

Schultz’s second plate appearance was a changeup that he stayed back on and pushed back up the middle, but second baseman Will Vogelgesang made a good grab on. The double was a breaking ball that Schultz pulled the hands in on and then drove to the wall in left-center.

He’s got a big leg kick, and that translates with his ability to find the gaps. He’s got gap-to-gap upside, maybe not as a longball hitter. But being very optimistic, the ability of Schultz to drive the ball to the right-center gap in triples alley at Comerica Park seems pretty exciting.

Nonetheless, gabbing Schultz in the tenth round was a great decision by the Tigers organization.