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Draft Review - Detroit Tigers

The long-awaited continuation of the draft reviews begins with the Detroit Tigers.

Here's an excerpt:

1. Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Christian Academy (MO), #9 overall, 6’4’’/205:Turner gained helium throughout much of the year based on his pure arm strength alone. He quickly gained fame for hitting 98 on the radar gun, and despite being a Scott Boras advisee, got picked at a fair spot here in the first. He signed a Major League deal at the deadline and did not pitch at the end of the season. DOB: 5/21/91. Signing bonus: $4,700,000*.

2. Andrew Oliver, LHP, Oklahoma State, #58 overall, 6’3’’/210: Oliver had a season that was pretty much the opposite of Turner’s. Another Scott Boras client, Oliver went through the tumultuous NCAA hearings about his eligibility, only to be reinstated and pitch poorly for his standards. He lost feel for his curveball and fell here, and the Tigers overspent for him. Mediocre pick, and he didn’t have any late-season innings. DOB: 12/3/87. Signing bonus: $1,495,000.

3. Wade Gaynor, 3B, Western Kentucky, #89 overall, 6’4’’/225: Gaynor was a quick mover in the spring, and he really ended up being drafted twenty rounds higher than most expected entering his junior season. He’s going to have to get by with his hitting, and he’s got good power and bat speed. He signed fairly quickly and hit .192/.281/.282 in 234 ABs with Oneonta in the New York-Penn League. Disappointing start. DOB: 4/19/88. Signing bonus: $392,400.

4. Edwin Gomez, SS, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, #120 overall, 6’3’’/175: Gomez was one of those prospects that was more appealing to some than others. A shortstop as a prep, he’ll almost definitely have to move off there, but he might stick in center field with solid speed and athleticism. He’s a switch-hitter with good raw power, so this wasn’t a bad pick, just risky. The Tigers kept him at shortstop for his debut, and he hit .190/.233/.216 in 153 ABs in the GCL. DOB: 8/26/91. Signing bonus: $245,700.

5. Austin Wood, LHP, Texas, #150 overall, 6’2’’/195: Wood became famous in the extra-long extra innings NCAA Regional game against Boston College’s Mike Belfiore. However, as a senior sign, he really didn’t show anything extraordinary for pro scouts, and he still projects as a lefty middle reliever, with possibly enough stuff to get good righties out with lefties. After signing, he pitched 5 shutout innings with Lakeland in the Florida State League. DOB: 11/2/86. Signing bonus: $100,000.

Direct link here.

What do you think?

Poll
Grade the Tigers' draft.
A
3 votes
A-
8 votes
B+
25 votes
B
34 votes
B-
17 votes
C+
22 votes
C
7 votes

116 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs  |  Comment 14 comments |

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Comments

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Nice list

I like finding other people who think Oliver was an overdraft…

(btw, posted a link to this list at Bless You Boys… hope you don’t mind)

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Dec 2, 2009 11:23 PM EST reply actions  

I stilll like the Oliver pick

You can argue that he was overpaid, but he has a pretty high ceiling and a floor of a late inning reliever.

by jar75 on Dec 3, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions  

I would argue his floor is lower.

He’s a guy that relies only on a fastball/changeup combo that he commands inconsistently, along with a wildly inconsistent set of breaking balls. He’s one of those college pitchers that could honestly flame out in the high minors or as a middle reliever if anything. Any sort of arm injury that deflates his velocity could also make him a pretty useless prospect.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 3, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions  

+1

With no curve, he really is a relief prospect. He’s as they drafted him, and until he gets that pitch back he’s not worth a second rounder.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Dec 3, 2009 6:39 PM EST up reply actions  

Oliver

I was discussing the strength of the Tigers system on another thread and I think it speaks volumes that Andy Oliver is the Tigers’ 5th best prospect according to BP. Maybe Cody Satterwhite at #7 speaks even louder.

Sorry to bring that back up but I’m not a huge Oliver fan. The guy lost it last year and he had a ways to go going into last year. He should make a solid minor league reliever but we’ll see if he can add another pitch and keep the walks down in order to make it in the majors.

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 3, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions  

No, you're right...

The system is still weak (especially since we threw away a draft on relievers). But this one has some very good potential, and it’s nice to have a SS prospect better than Cale Iorg.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Dec 3, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Voted B-

The main reason for that vote was the draft and sign of Fields who you don’t have in their draft. I Really feel he might rank as their #1 position player prospect right now and he and Turner could make this a draft that’s solid.

by gpellet41 on Dec 3, 2009 8:56 AM EST reply actions  

I'm with you on the B-

I could have bumped the grade to as high as a B+ had the Tigers been able to sign Mark Appel or Tobin Mateychick. Nice writeup, Andy.

MLB Draft Examiner
twitter | jesseburkhart -- draft-related content only
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by jesse.burkhart on Dec 3, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions  

Fritsch, Canela and Thomson would have been pretty nice signings as well.

I like the Turner/Oliver/Fields trio, so I went with a straight B

by jar75 on Dec 3, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions  

Appel was probably a backup plan.

As soon as I saw Fields picked early on day two, I knew that any other high-ceiling prep guys would be backup plans for not signing one or more of the Turner/Oliver/Fields group. Since they were able to get all those done, Appel was too expensive for them. Nice backup plan, but I never saw them signing all four of those guys. I was surprised enough that they signed James Robbins for overslot money.

by Andy Seiler on Dec 3, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions  

The only really pick that I like here is Turner. I am not as down on Oliver as some here are, but I still would have gone with a few others at this slot rather than Oliver. But, aside from Turner, I really see nothing else I really like here. I would go with a C+

by QBsIllest1 on Dec 4, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions  

Andrew Oliver...

what a terrible, terrible pick. Mike McCormick (StL) all over again.

by murda2626 on Dec 5, 2009 8:34 PM EST reply actions  

I am also down on Oliver

And high on Fields.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 5, 2009 10:14 PM EST reply actions  

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