FanSided

Detroit Tigers MLB Draft: Notable 18th-overall picks in last 10 years

By Ben Rosener |
Apr 7, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of Tiger outside Comerica Park prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of Tiger outside Comerica Park prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
1 of 3
Next
May 9, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander throws in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander throws in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers fans will see the team take a player in the first round on Monday night during the MLB Draft. The Tigers’ first pick comes at 18th overall. Here’s a look at players previously taken 18th.

Detroit Tigers first-round picks this century have generally helped the team in one way or another.

There’s the likes of Justin Verlander (2004), Rick Porcello (2007) and Nicholas Castellanos (2010) who developed into key performers for the franchise.

Meanwhile, some first-round picks were used to make key trades.

Cameron Maybin (2005) and Andrew Miller (2006) were both flipped to Florida in the Miguel Cabrera deal. Meanwhile, Jacob Turner (2009) and Chance Ruffin (2010) were moved in trades for Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante, as well as Doug Fister.

This year’s first-round pick is more likely to fall into the latter category.

It obviously isn’t a guarantee that any player the Tigers select will develop into a star, or even an impact player, but there’s plenty of potential to be found in the first round.

Additionally, the Detroit Tigers are building the organization with an eye on the future, so it’s unlikely any first-rounder would be traded before he reaches the big leagues.

Some of the players selected 18th overall in the last 10 years have turned out just fine.

Here’s a look.

Jun 11, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after hitting the go-ahead grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 11, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after hitting the go-ahead grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Current Major League players

Corey Seager

Year drafted: 2012
Current team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Lifetime WAR: 11.3
Games played in Majors: 246

Corey Seager is the perfect example of how teams can still snag star players outside of the top few picks.

The shortstop burst onto the scene in 2015 with the Dodgers, batting .337 with a .986 OPS in 113 plate appearances for the club.

He followed that up with a stellar debut season in 2016, winning Rookie of the Year, All-Star and Silver Slugger honors. The shortstop also finished third in the voting for National League MVP.

All told, Seager hit .308 with a .877 OPS, 105 runs scored, 72 RBI, 54 walks, 40 doubles, 26 home runs, five triples and three stolen bases.

His WAR finished at a sparkling 7.5.

The 23-year-old is on pace for another strong season with a 2.3 WAR in 62 games this year.

Sonny Gray

Year drafted: 2011
Current team: Oakland Athletics
Lifetime WAR: 10.0
Innings pitched in Majors: 655.1

Injuries have limited Sonny Gray in the past few years, but there’s no denying that he’s a frontline, ace-caliber pitcher when he’s right.

The 2011 draftee posted a 2.88 ERA and a 3.36 FIP from 2013 to 2015, making the All-Star team and finishing third in the Cy Young voting in the last year of the stretch.

Gray struggled in 2016, as he only started 22 games due to injuries.

Still, he’s bouncing back in 2017, with 8.9 punch outs per nine innings—which is on track to be his highest number since 2013—as well a 3.15 xFIP in 47.1 frames of work.

Detroit Tigers fans and front office members alike will probably be thrilled if the team can take someone with Seager or Gray’s upside.

Apr 30, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; A view of Comerica Park prior to the game of the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; A view of Comerica Park prior to the game of the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Notable prospects still developing

Blake Rutherford

Year drafted: 2016
Current franchise: New York Yankees
Minor League level: Single-A

After last season’s trade-deadline selloff that saw the Yankees move the likes of Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran, Ivan Nova and Aroldis Chapman, it’s probably more than safe to say the team has a loaded farm system.

As of Monday morning, Rutherford ranks third, only behind Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier, on MLB.com’s list of top Yankee prospects.

He’s currently hitting .280 with a .749 OPS for Single-A Charleston, and is a career .308 hitter in the minors.

Erick Fedde

Year drafted: 2014
Current franchise: Washington Nationals
Minor League level: Double-A

Erick Fedde may be the best pitching prospect left in the Washington Nationals’ system after the Adam Eaton trade in the offseason.

The Eaton deal, which saw Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning head to the Chicago White Sox, cleared the way for Fedde to rise to the top of the rankings.

MLB.com currently ranks him as Washington’s second-best prospect, and the 51st-best prospect in baseball.

Next: The Tigers have selected 18th in four previous drafts. Here's who they've taken

Fedde is currently in Double-A with the Harrisburg Senators. The right-hander owns a 3.04 ERA, a 1.118 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings for the Nationals’ minor league affiliate.

Next
Home / Detroit Tigers News

Schedule