The Detroit Tigers have made another draft selection, taking Arizona State third baseman Gage Workman with their fourth round pick (102nd overall).
Here is his official scouting report per MLB.com:
Originally slated to be part of the Class of 2018 out of Basha High School in Arizona, Workman reclassified and finished in 2017 instead, with the idea that he would head on his Mormon Mission, something his father Widd did in between two college stops and a four-year professional pitching career with the Padres and Dodgers. Instead, Workman headed to his father’s second collegiate home, Arizona State, where he’s been a starting infielder for two-plus years and had a solid performance in the Cape Cod League last summer.
The 6-foot-4 switch-hitter is big, strong and athletic. He’s better from the left side of the plate, both in terms of his approach at the plate and tapping into his excellent raw power. Overall, he’s power over hit and needs to cut down on his strikeouts, work more counts and take more walks to become a more well-rounded offensive player. He’s a solid-to-average runner, maybe a tick better underway, and he moves better than you’d think. He plays third at ASU in deference to Alika Williams, but Workman played short on the Cape and he could get the chance to play up the middle. He has the hands and arm strength to do it, but with his frame, third base seems a more likely long-term home.
Because he graduated earlier than expected, Workman will be just 20 years old come Draft time, something that should work in his favor. So should his plus makeup, which will allow him to maximize his tools at the next level.
