After selecting two of the Top 4 ranked pitchers on the opening night of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers shifted gears in Round 2 by drafting a position player.
With the No. 39 overall pick, the Tigers have selected high school SS (could move to 3B) Izaac Pacheco.
According to MLB.com, Pacheco is the No. 30 ranked prospect in the 2021 draft.
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AGE18
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BATSL
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DOB11/18/2002
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THROWSR
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HT6′ 4″
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WT225
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COMMITTEDTexas A&M
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TWITTER
Scouting Grades/Report (20-80 grading scale)
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HIT45
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POWER55
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RUN45
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ARM60
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FIELD55
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OVERALL50
Pacheco has a lot of similarities to Brady House, a fellow potential first-round pick from the 2021 high school class. Both have huge raw power but struggled on the showcase circuit this summer, and both are shortstops who likely will shift to third base in pro ball. While House is the better prospect, Pacheco has the advantages of batting left-handed and slightly better athleticism and size.
Pacheco may offer more left-handed juice than anyone in the 2021 Draft, creating plus-plus raw pop with strength, bat speed, leverage and loft. He performed well at the East Coast Pro showcase but otherwise swung and missed excessively during the summer while selling out for home runs. He got too pull-happy and chased too many pitches out of the strike zone, though he had shown a better approach previously and has settled down some this spring.
Though he has good infield actions for his size, Pacheco has fringy speed that will necessitate a move to third base. The Texas A&M recruit has soft hands and plus arm strength, leading some evaluators to believe he can develop into a plus defender at the hot corner. Ultimately, most of his value will come from his offensive production, and that will hinge on his ability to make adjustments at the plate.
