The Detroit Tigers have gotten closer and closer to draft day. Now that it is closing in quickly, the Tigers have to have some names circled at the top of their list.
The team needs that impactful bat to add to the lineup. They need someone who can come into the organization and be a real benefit to the team’s lineup day in and day out.
There’s a lot to like with the Detroit Tigers draft position being at 12. The draft class will provide a very well-rounded and deep first round, especially with the high-tier prep arms. There will still be many top-tier names on the board, and the team needs to hope one of them stands out.
While the Detroit Tigers should steer clear of the prep arms, there are several collegiate hitters that the Tigers should be high on. With the team picking no. 12, they have to be hoping for the player they draft to be able to impact the Tigers roster sooner than later.
As the countdown ticks down to the draft, Al Avila and his guys have to feel pretty comfortable with a few names for when the Tigers go on the clock. The top of the draft can always have surprises leaving someone to slip down to the 12th spot; the question is who will be the guy the Tigers can land.
Here are three players the Detroit Tigers need to be hopeful for.
The Detroit Tigers have to be smart and take a bat; there’s no reason to take a prep arm. There’s more than enough intrigue with Brock Porter, the homegrown talent from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, but they have to focus on what the team needs to keep the rebuild moving.
That being said, first up is a left-handed bat the Tigers should be ready to pounce on.
http://gty.im/1240290325
The Detroit Tigers need to consider Gavin Cross, Virginia Tech Hokies, LHH/OF
The Detroit Tigers would benefit from adding another player to the outfield who can swing it. Gavin Cross has the swing that should excite the fans. He can lift the ball and leverage it for some serious damage. With some power upside, there has to be some excitement about how that could translate to the next level.
Cross has been a force in the Virginia Tech Hokies lineup, and it’s hard to think that he will not be someone who can have a similar effect when he reaches the next level. Cross has a 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame and patrols centerfield for the Hokies.
If the Tigers want a solid outfielder that can pair well with Riley Greene, then taking Cross at pick no. 12 is something they have to consider. While he could get taken before then, the intrigue with Cross is more than understandable. At a minimum, he’s a left-handed hitter outfielder who fields his position well and will likely be able to hit well and hit for above-average power in the big leagues.
The Detroit Tigers need to consider Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman (NV), LHH/OF
If the Detroit Tigers want to take more of an investment project with someone who could be good in the long-term, then there is a lot to like with what Justin Crawford can bring to the table. There are major league bloodlines, with Justin Crawford being the son of Carl Crawford, who spent 15 seasons playing in the big leagues.
Now, he gets to watch his son’s name called in the 2022 draft. Justin is a high-school outfielder from Bishop Gorman in Nevada. He’s a player who’s going to need some polishing in the minors as he works towards the big leagues. But he’s very similar to his father.
Crawford can work the pull-side gap on line drives and hard-hit groundballs, letting his feet do the work. He’s quick out of the box and speedy on the bases, making him a genuinely top-tier speed threat. He finds ways to get on base and is always hungry to get on the move.
The speed also will be a plus in the outfield as Crawford can run down those hard-to-get balls in the gap and be a vacuum out there. Crawford’s young, though, coming out of high school. The Tigers should be looking for a big-time collegiate outfielder.
But if they want to take a chance on a player who may take more time, it feels like the projectability with Justin Crawford is exceptionally high. Investing in him to become a gap-to-gap hitter, living off of extra-base hits with his speed, seems like a good idea.
The Detroit Tigers need to consider Chase DeLauter, James Madison, LHH/OF
Lastly, the Detroit Tigers should consider Chase DeLauter with the no.12 overall pick in the upcoming draft. He’s a left-handed hitting outfielder for James Madison University who had an injury partially plague his 2022 collegiate season. However, the tools are exciting.
It’s a clean-hit tool that will be controlled in the batters’ box. He’s a 6-foot-4, 235-pound frame who patrols the outfield and profiles as more of a corner outfielder but should still be able to get the job done. DeLauter has the potential to hit for power but will likely be more of a guy who’s going to barrel the ball up to all areas of the field and hustle out the extra-base hits.
He has a swing that stays in unison mechanically and should be able to produce line drives and barrels routinely. The injury this season likely had him slide down some draft boards, but there’s plenty to like about what DeLauter can bring to the table.
He may be another left-handed hitting outfielder, but the Tigers need a bat and need another top-of-the-list name; DeLauter is someone who fits the build. He may not be the top choice, but he’s certainly deserving of the Tigers’ consideration at 12th overall.
The Tigers will have options, they should be hopeful for one of these three names, but there are a lot of impressive players who will be available at twelfth overall.
