The Detroit Tigers secured the 11th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft…
The Detroit Tigers secured the 11th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft through the lottery. Since the team’s reconstruction, they have only picked in this range once, selecting Jace Jung with the 12th pick in 2022. Despite their climb from the league’s bottom in 2023, Detroit had slim odds (1.6 percent) of obtaining the first overall pick. The team’s tenth-worst record in MLB resulted in the eleventh pick, just one spot lower than the previous system would have awarded them.
Analyzing the leadership group, including Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg, along with VP of scouting Rob Metzler’s work for the Tampa Bay Rays, and director of amateur scouting Mark Conner’s tenure with the San Diego Padres, reveals potential trends. The Tigers exhibited a preference for prep talent, exemplified by selecting Max Clark over Wyatt Langford last year and acquiring Blake Dickerson, a 2023 draftee, through a cash trade with the Padres.
Conner, previously with the youth-focused Padres, may influence this strategy, aligning with Metzler’s background with the Rays. Despite criticism of Clark’s distant MLB readiness, Tigers fans, according to a February poll, prioritize drafting the best player available, irrespective of high school or college background. While the philosophy is accepted, the success ultimately depends on making the right picks.
Opting for a heavily prep-oriented draft requires managing funds to persuade high schoolers to forego college commitments, a challenge exacerbated as the Tigers’ top pick dropped from third to eleventh this year. Consequently, the available budget is reduced, raising questions about whether this will impact their strategy. It remains to be seen if the Tigers will adjust their approach or persist in selecting talented prep players once beyond the early rounds and top college prospects.
