Detroit Tigers: Who to take in the Rule 5 draft?

Dec 12, 2017

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 28: A wide view of Comerica Park during a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

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Ryan O’Hearn was once a top 10 prospect for the Kanas City Royals, now he finds himself exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

Its possible the Royals don’t see O’Hearn as MLB ready. His line of .252/.325/.450 across 114 games at the AAA level isn’t all the impressive. His 2017 was disappointing overall as he posted a .253/.330/.455 slash line over a combined 133 games at Double- and Triple-A.

Given that Eric Hosmer is a free agent, all signs point to the Royals not having faith in O’Hearn being MLB ready, as Samir Duenez as become the first-base prospect to watch in Kansas City.

O’Hearns’ career slash line show that the potential is still there for him to become an MLB player, however he would be the kind of player that the Tigers would have to invest in and hope he is MLB ready in 2019 or 2020.