Detroit Tigers: 5 Options for The Rule 5 Draft Thursday

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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 4: Al Avila laughs during a news conference at Comerica Park after he was promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager on August 4, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. Avila replaces Dave Dombrowski who was the Tigers’ general manager since 2002. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Nick Burdi is a name which some Detroit Tigers fans are familiar with, he’s a second rounder who can throw 100 mph, and the Detroit News recently laid out an argument in his favor.

There are some risks though-Burdi had Tommy John Surgery in May and will be out most of 2018 rehabbing from the surgery. The Tigers will be taking a risk on a player who’ll rehab for months before ever even practicing.

His minor league numbers certainly suggest he’s worth the risk in 80 games, he’s posted a 3.20 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, with 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Burdi, though had Tommy John surgery at a fairly young age, which should be cause for concern on the Tigers part. However, as the Detroit News points out, Burdi is well known for his strong work ethic-which might help elevate the injury concerns.

Ultimately, it’ll be up to the Tigers if they think Burdi is a better option than drafting someone who wouldn’t need to rehab for most of 2018.

Next: Max Pentecost A Good Fit for The Detroit Tigers

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

By Adam McIntosh | Dec 12, 2017

Nick Burdi is a name which some Detroit Tigers fans are familiar with, he’s a second rounder who can throw 100 mph, and the Detroit News recently laid out an argument in his favor.