Today is the day. The Detroit Tigers will kick off the 2022 MLB First-Year Amateur Player Draft today and begin that process over the next three days. They have the twelfth overall pick in this year’s draft and will be looking to make an impactful choice.
As the draft comes upon us, the Detroit Tigers have assured fans that they will take the best player available, regardless of position. This leads me to believe there is a definite fear that they will select another prep arm. However, with this class being so prep arm heavy, it may not be the worst thing in the world.
The Tigers need offense, though; they need that impactful collegiate bat who will provide a major influence on the lineup. This will come from a hitter, especially one of the collegiate hitters available near the top of this draft class.
The draft class itself is heavy. There will be plenty of names to consider when the time comes for the Tigers to make their pick at twelfth overall. If they want to take a hitter, several studs will be available when the team is on the clock, both collegiate and prep hitters.
If the Tigers are genuinely going to take the best player available and take a pitcher, there are some really impressive arms who could be on the table for the team at 12th. But, the point is there will be options.
Here are some last-minute thoughts about the Detroit Tigers 2022 MLB Draft.
The team moved their second pick from the “first-round” in the trade that brought the team Austin Meadows who is still battling injuries. But they still have their selection at 12th and should be poised to select a collegiate bat.
The easiest way to “win” this draft for the Detroit Tigers is to keep it simple. Al Avila has no reason to try and be the smartest guy in the room. He should go out and get an impactful collegiate bat like Gavin Cross, Daniel Susac, Chase DeLauter, Zach Neto, Jace Jung, etc.
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That’s the easiest way to get a passing grade on this draft. The biggest way that Avila can “lose” this draft is going out and taking a prep arm. While Brock Porter still being on the board at 12 will lead to some tough decisions, the Tigers need a bat, and this is where they have to be smart.
A couple of quick hits for the Detroit Tigers draft hopes.
- My Favorite: Gavin Cross, OF/LHH, Virginia Tech Hokies
- The People’s Favorite: Zach Neto, SS/RHH, Campbell Camels
- The Underdog: Justin Crawford, OF/LHH, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
- The “I’ll take it.” pick: Brock Porter, RHP, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s HS (MI)
- The “Fire Al Avila” pick: Literally any prep arm. Well, there are a few I stamp a passing grade on.
- The out-of-nowhere pick: Peyton Graham, SS/RHH, Oklahoma Sooners
- The “Okay, but why?” pick: Daniel Susac, C/RHH, Arizona Wildcats
- The “How did he fall this far?” pick: Jacob Berry, INF/SHH, Louisiana State Tigers.
These are just a few of the mock picks or potential quick-hits picks that could happen. There are a lot of options. But if I had to break it down to a shortlist, Gavin Cross, Chase DeLauter, and Daniel Susac are the three at the top of my list.
Keep all of this in mind as the Detroit Tigers head into draft night. There’s no certainty about what the team could do, but there are some players who stand out among the rest.
