Detroit Tigers: The Best MLB Draft Picks Rounds 6-10

Recently, I highlighted the best draft picks 10th round and beyond. If the MLB rules stick to five rounds in 2020 and beyond that, who would stand out in the history of the Detroit Tigers among rounds 6 through 10 in the MLB Draft?

Throughout history, the Tigers had a few gems develop in the MLB draft 10th round and later that I took a look at recently.   The core of the 1984 World Series title team, Lance Parrish, Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson, Dan Petry, and Lou Whitaker were all drafted within the first five rounds of the draft. Until 1986, there used to be two different drafts with the traditional June draft date and there was one that was held in January called the Secondary Phase Draft. The Tigers drafted Dave Rozema, another member of the 1984 team, from that draft, in 1975. 

So what about other players in the 6th round till the 10th? My criteria was simple. They had to have at least a minimum of three seasons and were serviceable for Detroit or any other team they played for. So, without further ado, here are four MLB draft picks that came between the 6th and the 10th round.

Brian Moehler: (6th round, pick 165 overall, UNC-Greensboro,1993)

The Tigers rarely were able to draft starting pitchers from about 1985 to 1993 that they could build a rotation for. Moehler would break the mold, pitching seven seasons in Detroit, all during the Randy Smith era. His best season was in 1998, posting a bWAR of 4.2, an ERA of 3.90 and a WHIP of 1.24. To answer the trivia question, he was the Opening Day starter when Comerica Park first opened in 2000. His lifetime numbers overall in Detroit: 48-52 4.44 ERA.

Frank Catalanotto (10th round, pick 280, Smithtown East High School, NY, 1992)

Catalanotto quickly rose through the prospect ranks for the Tigers, having a great year for the old Tigers Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns that would win the league title in 1996 under an old familiar name to Tigers fans, Larry Parrish. He batted .298 with 17 home runs with 68 RBIs but more importantly, he walked more than he struck out. He was the centerpiece in the Juan Gonzalez trade in 2000. He would put up a bWAR season of 4.1 in 2001 for the Rangers.

Don Kelly (8th round, pick 237, Point Park University, Pittsburgh, 2001)

Everyone’s favorite utility player Don Kelly was drafted in the 8th round in 2001.  Kelly had some memorable moments in a Tigers uniform including his solo shot off in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Yankees. He was a key part of Jim Leyland’s bench through his time in Detroit.

Andy Dirks (8th round, pick 253, Wichita State University,2008)

Dirks’s time in Detroit was brief due to injuries but he produced a solid 2.1 bWAR season in 2012, batting .322 with an OPS+ of 129.