Detroit Tigers: 5 Best Late Round Picks in Team History

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NEW YORK – JULY 18: Outfielder Bobby Higginson #4 of the Detroit Tigers at bat during the game against the New York Yankees on July 18, 2002 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The Yankees won 5-3. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers have had their fair share of late round gems. Here on throwback Thursday, we look at the five best in team history.

As a Detroit Tigers fan, it can be pretty easy to focus on the draft picks that did not work out. Kyle Sleeth, Nate Cornejo, Eric Munson, Ryan Perry, Chance Ruffin and even Derek Hill were all supposed to superstars. However, it’s unfair to only judge a team based on their missteps. After all, every team has them.

So instead of looking at what could have been, let’s use this throwback Thursday to take a look at five times when the Detroit Tigers selected someone who ended up being quite the steal. It’s always nice to find that late round gem, and Tigers fans will certainly hope that a few of their most recent late round picks could develop into that. Mike Gerber and John Schreiber (15th round) and Brock Deatherage (10th round) certainly seem on their way, although they are by no means guarantees.

This post will be similar to this post detailing every one of Detroit’s best picks from each round of the MLB Draft. This is an ‘abridged’ version, which only covers the five best picks.

Below are five players who were taken in the 10th round or later who ended up paying off handsomely for the Tigers.

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