Detroit Tigers select RHP Troy Melton in 4th round of the 2022 MLB Draft

The Detroit Tigers take their first pitcher of the draft

With their fourth round selection, 117th overall, the Detroit Tigers have selected right-handed pitcher Troy Melton out of San Diego State.

This was the Detroit Tigers’ first pick of Day 2 of the 2022 MLB Draft after forfeiting their third-rounder by signing Eduardo Rodriguez in the offseason.

It was only a matter of time before the Tigers drafted an arm. Melton’s fastball is his bread-and-butter pitch, touching 97 at times, but he lacks a true out pitch. He’s lacked command at times, but did some work this past offseason to shorten that up, and it’s paid off so far.

Melton fits the mold of what the Tigers like in their college arms recently: tall and athletic. Coming in at 6-4, 210 lbs, he can be an imposing figure on the mound.

Here’s what MLB Pipeline has to say about the new Tigers right-hander:

“The 6-foot-4 Melton has the makings of a full starting pitcher’s repertoire. He has a big fastball with good life, up to 97 mph and averaging around 93 mph, and he relies on it heavily. While his slider has been effective at missing some bats, the low-80s breaker is not a true out pitch. He has worked to develop a truer curve, though he hasn’t used it in games much. He has a changeup, but it’s often too firm.”

Pipeline also notes that Melton worked with a pitcher whisperer in the offseason by the name of Dom Johnson, who has helped out the likes of Joe Musgrove in the past. Johnson helped Melton work on a new delivery, which has led to the better command and more consistent strike-throwing.

Melton will need to continue to work on his secondary pitches, but given how well the Detroit Tigers have developed pitching recently, this could end up being a nice find in the fourth round.