I finally got a chance today to get caught up on draft prospects and look to see what the Tiger farm system looks like. The Tigers took college player with the first 17 picks last year so I am going to look to take college players with most all of my pick. I will also use Matt Garrioch’s 2014 MLB DRAFT: Top 350 Prospects as a guide to what players should be consider for each pick. So lets get started.
23rd Pick Slot $1,953,100
Most ever mock draft has the Tigers taking Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville. " It is the easiest pick in the draft" is the quote by one mock draft. I like Burdi and it would not be a bad pick, but I am not sure it is that easy. I don’t know that you waste a 1st round pick on a close/bullpen arm and as John pointed out in the Tigers Top 20 summery the Tiger organization lacks impact bats. Considering the Tigers took college arms in its first 7 picks last year, hitters would fill organizational needs more than arms.
The following players are who I would think that the Tigers are looking at:
Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU
Brad Zimmer, CF, USF
Michael Conforto, LF, OSU
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina
A. J. Reed, 1B, Kentucky
Luke Weaver, RHP, FSU
Nick Burdi, RHP, Louisville
Kyle Schwarber, 1B/C, Indiana
Casey Gillaspie, 1b, WSU
The top four on this list will most likely be gone. I don’t have them in any order but I could see any of the bottom five being our man.
63rd Pick Slot $900,600
Brian Anderson, CF/2b, Arkansas
Aramis Garcia, C, FIU
J.D Davis, 1B, CSFU
Dan Mengden, RHP, TAMU
Garrett Fuenchek, RHP, Dallas Baptist
Matt Imhof, LHP, Cal Poly
Jocob Lindgren, LHP, MSU
Erick Fedde, RHP Nevada-LV
Brett Graves, RHP, Mizzu
The guys I like the most of this group is Imhof and Garcia. Imhof would be the most likely fit for the what the Tiger would pick. With Garcia being a close second, The Tigers usually take a college catcher in the early rounds and since they didn’t last year he might be the guy. Anderson is a good bat but has a lot of question about his glove. Mengden, Fedde and Graves are Tiger types of picks. This pick will be effected by the first round pick.
Here are the name that would slot for the last two picks. I haven’t got to review most of these yet. So all input would be helpful.
99th Pick Slot $529,400
Joey Pankake, 3b, South Carolina
Chris Oliver, RHP, Arkansas
Eric Skoglund, LHP, UCF
Tanner English, LF, South Carolina
Micheal Cederoth, RHP, SDSU
Pat Connaughton, RHP, Notre Dame
Andrew Suarez, LHP, Miami
Chris Ellis, RHP, Ole Miss
Mark Zagunis, C, Virginia Tech
Jordan Luplow, LF, Fresno State
Taylor Gushue, C, Florida
130th Pick Slot $392,400
A. J. Vanegas, RHP, Stanford
Wyatt Strahan, RHP, USC
Adam Revenelle, RHP, Vandy
Jake Kelzer, RHP, Indiana
Zech Lemond, RHP, Rice
Daniel Gossett, RHP, Clemson
Same Coonrod, RHP, Southern Illinois
Dillon Peters, LHP, Texas
Dale Carey, OF , Miami
Mitchell Gunsolus, 3B, Gonzagz
Shane Mardirosian, OF, UCSB