Detroit Tigers: 5 players they could realistically take in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft

LHP Connor Prielipp, Alabama

Get ready, Tigers fans, because this could be the pick.

Rumor has it

that Detroit is planning on selecting the Bama lefty when their pick comes around on Sunday. Before you take out your pitch forks, let’s see what Prielipp has to offer.

All of his pitches are above average, with his slider being absolutely devastating. It has a max spin rate that exceeds 3,000 RPM according to MLB.com. The fastball usually sits in the low 90s and touches 95, but it could see an uptick with his newly reconstructed elbow.

Oh yeah, he’s coming off Tommy John surgery. That seems important. He had it after making just one start in 2021. He went under the knife last May, so he should be close to making a full recovery, which is obviously good.

He pitched in the draft combine last month, and scouts said his stuff was back according to MLB Pipeline. He had the potential to go 1:1 in this draft if not for the injuries. If the Detroit Tigers do decide to go with another arm at the top of the draft, going the college route would be the way to go.

If his stuff is as good as advertised, and his rehab process is about finished, then this wouldn’t be a terrible pick, especially considering the fact the Detroit Tigers excel at pitching development. Given the amount of injuries to Detroit’s pitching staff this year, it may not be that outlandish to take Prielipp.