Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 — the first five rounds

The 2021 MLB Draft is just days away, and the anticipation/dread among Detroit Tigers fans is palpable. Here at MCB we’ve been trying to scratch that draft itch for months, with player profiles, position primers, and retrospectives.

And today we offer our second mock draft. We did our first mock draft a little more than a month ago, with five MCB contributors alternating selections for the first 40 picks of the draft.

We decided to take a different route for this mock, with seven MCB contributors each making picks for the Detroit Tigers, and only the Tigers, through the 5th round. Detroit has six picks (3, 32, 39, 74, 104, and 135) in the first five rounds.

The rules for this exercise were fairly simple:

• Player must be ranked at or below their draft spot on MLB Pipeline’s list
• Players can only be drafted once

The first rule doesn’t apply to the #3 pick, but that pick is arguably the least interesting in this mock. There are probably just four players the Tigers would take in the first round, and it’s likely only two of them will actually be available.

Is MLB Pipeline’s draft list the best? Probably not, but it’s free and easily accessible, and accuracy isn’t really the the point of this mock. Our goal is to introduce you to a small number of the 100+ possible players who might be selected by the Tigers after the first round.

And with that, let’s begin the mock. Jon won the draft lottery and makes the first selection.

Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 – First Round, Pick 3

Pipeline Rank: 8

Jon Says: The Tigers brought in House for a two-day visit to Lakeland. This likely gave them a final look at the 70 grade power and the rocket arm that’ll keep him on the left side of the infield. House is the youngest of the four prep SS phenoms, and the extra development time is valuable. The Tigers are very likely to get House and then draft a bushel of college arms from that point forward.

Next up is Rogelio…

Pipeline Rank: 7

Rogelio says: So this might come as a shock, but I’ve been thinking about this hard for a while. Since I think Mayer will not be there and Leiter I think will bring drama, I’m going with Jobe. They will pick up a bat later in the round.

On to Kellen’s pick…

Pipeline Rank: 1

Kellen Says: It’s a longshot that Mayer is available when the Tigers pick at 3, which speaks to his standing as the best prospect in the draft class. Mayer has a silky smooth left handed swing and projects to have above average hit and power, all while having a decent chance to stick at shortstop long term. You guys made my job easy, lol.

Moving on to Joe…

Pipeline Rank: 2

Joe Says: As the Tigers have started graduating their highest level arms to the majors the question has started to arise, who are the next arms in the system. In this scenario, the question gets answered with the selection of Jack Leiter. The polished Vandy product is considered by many to be the top arm available in the 2021 draft.

Next up it’s Mike…

Pipeline Rank: 5

Mike Says: I’ll take the 55 Power and 70 arm. Can never have too many catching prospects and he could also be a candidate to slide to 3rd base if needed and he doesn’t stick behind the plate.

Now on to Chris…

Pipeline Rank: 3

Chris Says: I’ll go with Jordan Lawlar with my pick. He might be the most well-rounded of all the shortstop options this year, and he’s probably the one most likely to stick at the position.

And finally Jake gets to pick…

Pipeline Rank: 4

Jake Says: I’ll go with Kahlil Watson here. It’s a long shot of course (and probably my seventh choice too, if we’re being honest) but if Detroit decides to get cute with bonus pool money, Watson would fit into Detroit’s newfound affection for position players early and give themselves the ultimate test to prove they can develop shortstops.

So there you have it. Seven cracks at the number three pick, and not one of them used on Kumar Rocker. What other surprises does this mock have in store? Hit the jump to find out…

Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 – Competitive Balance Round A, Pick 32

Jake gets the the first choice in this round and goes with…

Pipeline Rank: 47

Jake Says: For 32 I’ll go Chase Burns. The Tigers have just started to see the fruits of their labor from drafting Matt Manning in 2016. In Burns, they receive another projectable starter and begin to replenish a barren pitching well in the lower minors.

Pipeline Rank: 60

Chris Says: Technically Will Bednar is available by our rules, but I’m gonna skip him because he’s absolutely going in the top 20. I’ll just stick with the kid I’ve liked all along…Thatcher Hurd. His velo is fringy now, but he’s got tons of projection remaining and the sort of spin profile teams love. Going prep back-to-back probably wipes out the bonus pool though…

Pipeline Rank: 36

Mike Says: Give me the first round talent with Tommy John in the rear view window for the next 10 years. At worst I think you get a closer out of the deal with the big fastball if the secondaries do not progress as much as needed, and at best another arm to solidify the middle-to-back of the rotation.

Pipeline Rank: 57

Joe Says: A personal favorite of mine. The Tigers take Wright State second baseman Tyler Black. Black is an above-average hitter from the left side of the plate with great barrel control. He has shown a very patient approach as well, and he could end up with average power. That is an intriguing profile for someone who should be able to be an average defender at the keystone.

Pipeline Rank: 72

Kellen Says: White has been a big riser as we’re nearing the draft due to his profile of plus raw power and solid center field defense. The hit tool will decide his ceiling and the Tigers will almost certainly need to go way overslot here to pry him away from his football commitment. If the Tigers choose to save some money with Jobe or even House in the first round, White would make a lot of sense here.

Pipeline Rank: 64

Rogelio Says: The Tigers didn’t get their shortstop in the first round (I took Jobe), but they get him here in the form of local product Alex Mooney. Mooney is a well-rounded player with a pretty high floor for a high schooler, and the Tigers are well acquainted with his plus makeup.

Pipeline Rank: 50

Jon Says: Mikulski was eligible but went undrafted in 2020. He remade his delivery and saw a substantial jump in his stuff in 2021, flashing a fastball in the upper 90s and plus slider. There’s some relief risk here, but the Tigers will send him out as a starter and see what they have.

Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 – Third Round, Pick 74

Pipeline Rank: 84

Jake Says: This could be their over-slot play in my draft, re-allocating the savings from earlier to get a guy who has gotten some comp round buzz. It’s a hit-first profile that might need a position change in the future, but nevertheless a physically-advanced frame and sweet left-handed stroke.

Pipeline Rank: 148

Chris Says: Trimble is something of a late riser as a draft-eligible freshman with a limited track record, but he’s a switch-hitting center fielder who shows 5-tool potential. He hit .345 with 17HR and 12SB for the season, and he went ham down the stretch, including a 9-for-18 performance with 3HR and 9RBIs in four Regional games against Florida State and Ole Miss.

Pipeline Rank: 78

Mike Says: High School SS/Pitcher who may not stick at SS but with a 55 hit tool and a 45 power that could go up as his 6’1 frame continues to fill out could be an option at a corner position. Love that he reclassified from 2022 draft to this year, tells me he believes in himself and is raring to go into pro ball.

Pipeline Rank: 96

Joe Says: After taking two position players the Tigers add some more pitching depth. Hammel is a high spin rate guy with a chance for three above-average pitches in his fastball, slider and curveball. He does show some feel for a change as well. If his command can improve as a pro he could pitch in the middle of a big league rotation someday.

Pipeline Rank: 97

Kellen Says: Thomas has all the physical traits to be a successful MLB outfielder. He’s a built 6’2 with huge raw power and at least average speed. He’s even performed pretty well against top opponents in the SEC. He slips this far because he strikes out a lot and doesn’t walk. He’ll have to refine his approach moving forward which makes him a very risky prospect for a successful college player.

Pipeline Rank: 85

Rogelio Says: He’s 6’6 and has room to fill out, with a good fastball and slider that can continue to develop. The Tigers really do not have a lot of lefties and his profile suggests he would be a good fit.

Pipeline Rank: 98

Jon Says: Big 6’5” dude with the skill to stick in CF and burgeoning power

Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 – Fourth Round, Pick 104

Pipeline Rank: 161

Jon Says: Love the story….struggling pitcher at Waynesburg College in PA. He gets correctly diagnosed with diabetes….changes his life. Between meds and a better diet, he gains 50 pounds of “good” weight. Suddenly he went from “can’t break glass” to throwing 99 after the transfer to Gardner Webb to get his Master’s degree.

Pipeline Rank: 136

Rogelio Says: The biggest thing holding back Tanner Allen from being a premier prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft is his age. A 5th-year senior, Allen will be 23 years for the draft this year. With Detroit selecting him, it fits previous profiles of seniors who could come in and help out right away.  Allen has a short, quick, compact stroke from the left side that can do a bit of damage. It’s average power at the plate, but it plays up thanks to a premier approach and mature eye. In a year throttled by high-strikeout outfielders, Allen’s 12.7% K-rate since 2019 stands out. He’s got fringy speed and an average arm that should lend well to a future in left field.

Pipeline Rank: 139

Kellen Says: Farr has a high-octane fastball that he throws downhill from a three quarters arm slot. His changeup is solid above average and he has flashed a good new curveball that he developed over the pandemic. His control and command are concerning, but he should be a strong high-leverage reliever even if he can’t command well enough to profile in a big league rotation.

Pipeline Rank: 125

Joe Says: Tiedemann is an interesting prospect at this point in the draft due to his relatively high ceiling. He is projectable due to his age and tall, lean frame. He already has solid stuff though as he combines a low 90s fastball, that peaks around 94, with a good changeup and developing slider. He is a good athlete and projects to have average command down the line. If his stuff ticks up a bit with maturity, he could be a guy who eventually impacts the big league rotation.

Pipeline Rank: 112

Mike Says: Described by some scouts as a grinder with more hit than power, but still could provide 15 HR and a solid batting average. Currently playing the outfield with solid 55 speed and a good base runner, some thoughts he could be a useful super utility player playing 2B, 3B and the OF if he doesn’t develop into an everyday player.

Pipeline Rank: 247

Chris Says: Cerantola might legitimately have the best pure stuff in the entire draft. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and touches 100, he has a hammer of a breaking ball with elite spin rates, and he’ll even flash an above-average changeup. He began the year in Mississippi State’s rotation, but poor control basically confined him to the bench. This is an extremely risky profile, but the Tigers can afford to give him innings in a way the Bulldogs couldn’t, and the upside is too high to ignore here.

Pipeline Rank: 141

Jake Says: The Tigers have had some luck at the catching position as of late and they go for Hickey, who may ultimately struggle to stay behind the dish. There will be a lot of pressure on the bat assuming he ends up at first base or left field long-term, but it would be another example of the org leaning on hitters lately.

Detroit Tigers Mock Draft 2.0 – Fifth Round, Pick 135

Pipeline Rank: 153

Jake Says: Another big lefty arm that may ultimately end up in the bullpen, but with the organization being hard up for starters throughout the minors, they can afford to give him a long leash and figure out his command issues.

Jake’s Picks:

Pipeline Rank: 171

Chris Says: Bowman spent his first two years in junior college so he doesn’t have a long track record against strong competition, but he stepped right into Louisville’s lineup this year and performed well. He batted .293 and showed a patient approach while hitting 8 home runs and stealing 24 bases in 28 tries, and he could fit at the top of the order in pro ball.

Chris’ Picks:

Pipeline Rank: 152

Mike Says: A big 6-5 250 pounder with a fastball that sits mid 90’s and touches 99 with a 55-grade splitter to boot. Slider and splitter both in the upper 80’s with the slider right now being more of a cutter than a full slider. Needs work on the control and to develop a change up but he could be a lethal weapon and a starter if he finds that softer pitch or potentially a really nice, hard-throwing back end bullpen piece if the secondaries aren’t strong enough to start.

Mike’s Picks:

Pipeline Rank: 193

Joe Says: Allen doesn’t really have a standout tool, however he has the potential for average tools across the board. His bat combines the ability to make contact with above average raw power, which he did a better job using this season, leaving most scouts to think there is average game power in there. He’s a good defender in center with enough speed and arm for the position and the instincts to help both play up.

Joe’s Picks:

Pipeline Rank: 199

Kellen Says: Stephenson stands at 5’9 but is a twitchy athlete and legit 70 grade runner who would immediately be the Tigers’ fastest player in their system. He has shown the ability to make consistent hard contact, albeit against lower level competition in junior college. He has some upside if he proves he can hit against more advanced competition. If he were to rise this far, it would be an awesome story for a kid who only had one division 1 offer out of high school in 2019.

Kellen’s Picks:

Pipeline Rank: NA

Rogelio Says: Screams Lipcius 2.0

Rogelio’s Picks:

Pipeline Rank: 211

Jon Says: A 6’4” righty who is lanky with all arms and legs flying around. Is 93-96 with his heater and touches 99. Slider and changeup both play well. Could be a multi-inning reliever or perhaps a starter if things break right.

Jon’s Picks: