Tweet
Keith Law (the athletic) on the TIgers draft
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers went for the high schooler at the third overall pick, taking Indiana outfielder Max Clark (1). Clark is the closest thing to a five-tool player we had in this draft, and if he hits in pro ball as expected he’ll be a star. He’s a plus-plus runner, makes hard and often loud contact, and can really play center field. He may also currently lead the Tigers organization in Instagram followers. They went back to the prep position player pool with Kevin McGonigle (1A), a shortstop from outside of Philadelphia who has one of the top hit tools in this year’s high school class. His left-handed swing is clean and simple, while he’s demonstrated an advanced command of the strike zone for his age so far. He’s going to have to move to second base, and there’s a split camp on whether there’s much more power to come from his 5-10 frame, but he should continue to hit even as the pitching improves.
Nebraska infielder Max Anderson (2) looks like he can just flat-out hit, showing more power this year, hitting good velocity, working the count, and ranking among the leaders in the Big 10 in most offensive categories. He’s going to start out at second base and will have to work some to stay there, with the only other spot for him in left field. I buy the bat, though. Lefty Paul Wilson (3) is the son of Trevor Wilson, who pitched for the Giants too recently in my mind for him to have a draft-eligible son. He’s got a plus fastball with good riding life to it, throwing two distinct breaking balls without great feel for either pitch yet. He’s had some consistency issues in the delivery, but did improve his control this past spring and should get over-slot money to buy him away from Oregon State. He’s a good projection high school arm, the kind of pitcher teams who want high school pitching should target after the first round.
Tennessee commit Carson Rucker (4) has a great right-handed swing that produces some power already and has the loft to lead to plus or better power down the road, especially given his frame. The Tigers announced him as a third baseman, moving him immediately off shortstop. Right-hander Jaden Hamm (5) comes straight over the top like an Iron Mike pitching machine, working 90-95 mph with a very vertical-breaking curveball and a surprisingly solid changeup given his arm slot. The Middle Tennessee State starter had a 5.31 ERA this year, in part because he walked too many guys (10.4 percent) but also because he doesn’t work that well to the outer or inner edges of the zone. Wake Forest catcher Bennett Lee (6), a transfer this spring from Tulane, makes a fair amount of contact but without any power; he’s a good enough receiver to maybe end up a backup. Pepperdine shortstop John Peck (7) doesn’t turn 21 until next week, but had a miserable spring, hitting just .272/.353/.441 after an atrocious summer on the Cape in 2022. He’s got a big leak after his stride, which may be why he doesn’t hit any kind of offspeed stuff, although he’s never shown great pitch or ball-strike recognition.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers went for the high schooler at the third overall pick, taking Indiana outfielder Max Clark (1). Clark is the closest thing to a five-tool player we had in this draft, and if he hits in pro ball as expected he’ll be a star. He’s a plus-plus runner, makes hard and often loud contact, and can really play center field. He may also currently lead the Tigers organization in Instagram followers. They went back to the prep position player pool with Kevin McGonigle (1A), a shortstop from outside of Philadelphia who has one of the top hit tools in this year’s high school class. His left-handed swing is clean and simple, while he’s demonstrated an advanced command of the strike zone for his age so far. He’s going to have to move to second base, and there’s a split camp on whether there’s much more power to come from his 5-10 frame, but he should continue to hit even as the pitching improves.
Nebraska infielder Max Anderson (2) looks like he can just flat-out hit, showing more power this year, hitting good velocity, working the count, and ranking among the leaders in the Big 10 in most offensive categories. He’s going to start out at second base and will have to work some to stay there, with the only other spot for him in left field. I buy the bat, though. Lefty Paul Wilson (3) is the son of Trevor Wilson, who pitched for the Giants too recently in my mind for him to have a draft-eligible son. He’s got a plus fastball with good riding life to it, throwing two distinct breaking balls without great feel for either pitch yet. He’s had some consistency issues in the delivery, but did improve his control this past spring and should get over-slot money to buy him away from Oregon State. He’s a good projection high school arm, the kind of pitcher teams who want high school pitching should target after the first round.
Tennessee commit Carson Rucker (4) has a great right-handed swing that produces some power already and has the loft to lead to plus or better power down the road, especially given his frame. The Tigers announced him as a third baseman, moving him immediately off shortstop. Right-hander Jaden Hamm (5) comes straight over the top like an Iron Mike pitching machine, working 90-95 mph with a very vertical-breaking curveball and a surprisingly solid changeup given his arm slot. The Middle Tennessee State starter had a 5.31 ERA this year, in part because he walked too many guys (10.4 percent) but also because he doesn’t work that well to the outer or inner edges of the zone. Wake Forest catcher Bennett Lee (6), a transfer this spring from Tulane, makes a fair amount of contact but without any power; he’s a good enough receiver to maybe end up a backup. Pepperdine shortstop John Peck (7) doesn’t turn 21 until next week, but had a miserable spring, hitting just .272/.353/.441 after an atrocious summer on the Cape in 2022. He’s got a big leak after his stride, which may be why he doesn’t hit any kind of offspeed stuff, although he’s never shown great pitch or ball-strike recognition.
Comment