Detroit Tigers: 2016 Draft Picks to Watch in 2017

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila recently wrapped up his first full year running the team’s front office. That included the 2016 draft. Avila added some intriguing talent that is worth watching next season.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen many of the team’s top prospects establish careers with the club.

The likes of Johnathan Crawford, Willy Adames and Devon Travis were all traded away before reaching the Majors. Elsewhere, Jacob Turner, Avisail Garcia and Casey Crosby failed to catch on with Detroit.

However, in recent seasons, the Tigers have focused more on youth.

Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and JaCoby Jones have joined in trades, while Nick Castellanos, Bruce Rondon and James McCann have developed into integral contributors.

Detroit has also brought depth to the farm system. Matt Manning, Christin Stewart, Beau Burrows, Mike Gerber and Derek Hill have all joined the organization in recent years. Additionally, top relief prospect Joe Jimenez looks set to debut in the near future.

The Tigers farm system could still use some added talent, but Avila and company did an excellent job in the 2016 draft.

Manning and Kyle Funkhouser will rightly dominate the headlines, but Detroit also added some intriguing talent later in the draft.

Here are nine 2016 Detroit Tigers draft picks to watch next season.