Detroit Tigers select Spencer Turnbull in second round of 2014 MLB Draft

The MLB Draft is cute. It wants to be more than it is, which is why it was moved to a prime time spot a number of years ago, however they still don’t have the kinks worked out.

Whereas the first day of the NFL Draft concludes when Round 1 ends, the MLB Draft continues on through Round 2 on the first day, which means teams like the Detroit Tigers, picking in the latter portions of each round, are drafting late into the night.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. last night, the Tigers made their second pick of the MLB Draft, selecting Spencer Turnbull, a right-handed pitcher from Alabama. It was the 63rd overall pick and came a couple of hours (and 40 picks) after selecting Derek Hill with their first round pick (23rd overall).

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The Tigers surprised some by passing on Nick Burdi, who was

slated to go to the Tigers by many mock drafts

and was

Sam O’Toole’s preferred target

. The Louisville product slipped out of the first round and landed in the lap of division rival Minnesota, selecting him with the 46th pick.

Detroit felt they could pass on a pitcher in the first round, after years of going pitcher heavy at that spot, because there is a lot of depth in strong arms this year.

Turnbull is 6-foot-3, weighing in at 230 pounds. As a junior for the Crimson Tide this past season, the right-hander posted a 2.22 ERA and allowed opponents to hit just .192 against him. He fanned 61 in 93+ innings.

Per James Schmehl of MLive, his former coach has nothing but positive things to say about him.

"“Spencer has been a horse, he has taken the ball every weekend, he’s never missed a start, he’s never had an injury,” Alabama coach Mitch Gaspard told The Tuscaloosa News earlier this week. “It’s a legitimate 95 miles per hour every time he goes out there. That’s going to interest every pro scout out there.”"

The draft will continue with rounds 3-10 on Friday and Rounds 11-40 (yikes) will take place on Saturday.