Detroit Tigers: Early Look at 2023 MLB Draft

The Detroit Tigers are going to have a high pick in 2023.

Well, the book on the 2022 MLB Draft is closed for the Detroit Tigers. They spent most of the first two days of the draft adding intriguing college infielders like Jace Jung, Peyton Graham, and Luke Gold. And then on day three they went heavy on pitching.

Now we turn our attention to the 2023 MLB Draft. The Tigers 2022 season has gone south in a spectacular way, which means the team is likely to have another top ten draft pick. The Tigers currently own the sixth worst record at 37-55.

In the past that would suggest a potential sixth pick in next year’s draft, but the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement instituted a new draft lottery that looks like this:

The Tigers won’t be making the playoffs, so there’s a chance they could land the #1 overall pick. Right now they have a 7.5% chance of that happening, but they are close enough to a bottom three record (up 2 games on the Reds) or picking outside the top ten (5.5 games behind the Rockies) that it’s far too early to guess where they’ll actually pick.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at some of the best players in the class. We did this last year, and that list is a good reminder of how much things can change in one year. Only one of the college pitchers we named was taken in the first round, and we didn’t even mention Jackson Holliday, this year’s first overall pick.

We’ll try to do better this year, starting today with some of the best college options for 2023:

Detroit Tigers 2023 MLB Draft Options – College Pitchers

Ryan Bruno spent 2022 as Stanford’s bullpen ace, making 30 appearances and putting up dominant stats (2.72 ERA, 71 strikeouts) over 39.1 innings. If he joins the Cardinal rotation and throws more strikes he has first-round potential. The talented Seminoles rotation forced Jackson Baumeister into relief work this year, where his numbers weren’t great (5.60 ERA), but he has the size and stuff to go in the top 20 picks if it all comes together for him.

Chase Dollander has all the ingredients to be the first pitcher off the board next year, with good size (6’3, 195), outstanding results (2.39 ERA, 108K, 13BB, 79 IP), and electric stuff. Rhett Lowder is one part of an impressive 1-2 punch for Wake Forest. He offers a classic three-pitch mix, and was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year. His teammate Teddy McGraw is a sturdy right-hander with a mid-90s sinker and two quality secondary offerings.

Patrick Reilly worked out of Vanderbilt’s bullpen this year, but he has the stuff and delivery to start if he can work on his command. Will Sanders is another candidate to be the first pitcher off the board, with an ideal three-pitch mix and room to grow into more velocity. Paul Skenes is one of the most talented two-way players in the country, but he figures to be a pitcher at the next level, though his service academy status clouds his future.

Hurston Waldrep has one of the most electric arms in the country, with a fastball that has reached the upper 90s, and a nasty 12/6 breaking ball. Jaxon Wiggins is another tall righty with a plus fastball, and he could be a top 20 pick if he shows more progress with his secondary stuff next year. Tanner Witt is something of a wild card, as he was a top-100 prospect in the 2020 draft and showed an impressive fastball/curveball mix this year before going down with Tommy John surgery in March.

Detroit Tigers 2022 MLB Draft Options – College Outfielders

Jace Bohrofen is still more potential than production, as the lefty stick hit just .252 with 2 home runs as a freshman for Oklahoma State, then batted .228 with 3 home runs in limited action for Arkansas this spring. Enrique Bradfield is one of the most electric players in college baseball, with truly game-changing speed (he went 46-for-46 on steal attempts this year) and plus defense in center field. He hit 8 home runs this season, but he figures to be more of a slap hitter in pro ball.

Dylan Crews is the current favorite to go first overall next year, with outstanding power, good patience, and the arm and speed to be a plus defender in right field. Chase Davis played sparingly as a freshman, but he broke out this year for Arizona, batting .289 with 18 home runs and 48 walks in 63 games. Caden Grice has some of the best raw power in this draft class, but he has pretty huge questions surrounding his contact ability (.244, 97K in 58G), and though he played right field this year he probably fits best at first base.

Wyatt Langford was one of the biggest breakout players in college this season. He played just four games for the Gators last year, but this season he hit .356/.447/.719 with 26 home runs. He played every game in the outfield, but he also has some experience at first base, third base, and catcher. Elijah Nunez is a bit of a poor-man’s Bradfield, showcasing above-average speed (31-for-33 on steal attempts) and defense to go along with impressive on-base skills (58 walks to 48 Ks), though with little in the way of game power.

Check back later for our look at next year’s top high-school prospects.