Detroit Tigers Select Texas RHP Corey Knebel 39th Overall

June 12, 2011; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns pitcher Corey Knebel (29) pitches against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the ninth inning of the Austin super regional game at Disch-Falk Field. Texas beat Arizona State 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers’ second pick of the 2013 draft came in the Competitive Balance ‘A’ Round – stuck between the first and second rounds – at pick 39 overall. This pick was gained in the trade last summer that also brought Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante (Detroit sent their Competitive Balance Round B pick to Miami in the deal). With this selection, the Tigers drafted right handed relief pitcher Corey Knebel out of Texas.

Here’s the MLB.com scouting report video on Knebel:

He throws hard, so that’s good, but I really hate the idea of using such a high pick on a player that’s a pure reliever — relievers by nature having relatively low-impact upside — and our only real hope here is that he’s a player that can rise through the ranks quickly and make an impact with the big leagues (and sticks there). Knebel served as the Texas closer.

Think of it this way: only 15 people in the whole world get to be an above average MLB closer at any given time. By making this pick you’re basically betting (or hoping) on Knebel to be that.