Detroit Tigers end up with No. 3 overall pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Detroit Tigers had some lottery luck to move up in the draft

The first-ever MLB Draft Lottery was held last night. Many people expected the Detroit Tigers to follow suit with other Detroit sports team and have horrible lottery luck, but surprisingly, the ping-pong balls were very kind to the Tigers.

The Detroit Tigers will have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, moving up from the sixth pick. Other teams like the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals fell in the draft order to help make it possible for the Tigers to move up. The Pittsburgh Pirates were awarded the No. 1 overall selection.

This will be the third time in the last five years the Detroit Tigers have picked in the top 3, and fourth time they've picked in the top 5. For a franchise that still needs blue chip prospects in their farm system, this will be a huge help.

Here's what president of baseball operations Scott Harris had to say about the pick, from Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic:

"Every opportunity to go acquire an impact, young player is sacred. Now we are even closer to the top of the draft. "We’re going to get to a place in this organization where we are not picking in the top of the draft. That is ultimately the goal."

Getting another top pick is nice, but at some point, like Harris says, this team needs to get to a place where they aren't getting a lottery pick. They need to start winning games, and so far this offseason, they haven't done a whole lot to ensure that'll happen.

The 2023 draft class isn't as top heavy as this past year, which is good for teams below the Tigers. That being said, the top talent next year is still fantastic. LSU OF Dylan Crews is the headliner, as he's the consenus No. 1 pick at the moment.

Prospects Live released a mock draft right after the draft order was set, and they have the Tigers taking SS Jacob Gonzalez out of Ole Miss at No. 3 and Virginia 3B Jake Gelof at No.. 37. The Tigers already have a lot of newfound infield depth in their farm system, and this would only add to it. Other potential options at No. 3 include Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander and prep outfielder Max Clark.