Detroit Tigers select Max Anderson at pick no.45 in the 2023 MLB Draft

Detroit Tigers select Max Anderson in the second round.

The Detroit Tigers have closed out Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft with their third selection of the night. The team went out and selected Max Anderson from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a second baseman who swings it from the right side.

The Detroit Tigers opened up with Max Clark at third overall, taking the highly-touted prep bat to kick things off. They doubled down on prep bats later on when they took middle infielder Kevin McGonigle at no. 37 as part of Compensation Round A.

Following those two picks, the two left-handed hitting prep bats from cold weather states, the Tigers went out west, well, to the Midwest. They dipped into the collegiate ranks, grabbing a BIG10 bat in Anderson. He's a right-handed hitting infielder who plays second and likely sticks there long term.

It's a compact frame with a sturdy and physical build at 6-foot, 215 pounds, and is expected to bring some tools with the bat in his hands. He's an all-around hitter. He's expected to have his hit tool and approach being carrying factors in his profile.

Given what friend of the program, Brian Sakowski, hinted at with his approach, it seems like Anderson could very much so be a Scott Harris "three pillars" pick. If Anderson can show that type of desirable OBP-heavy approach that produces results, then Harris will be thrilled.

After all, he's all-in on guys who can control at-bats and work the strike zone to produce results. He had an elite Spring this year with the Nebraska squad. Anderson played in 57 games where he slashed .414/.461/.771 and managed 20 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, and 70 RBI.

He may not be someone that was super high on everyone's draft board, but the pick seemingly looks like a good one at first glance. A hit-tool-driven second baseman who projects to stay there with tons of efficiency in terms of working counts and just being the type of hitter that Harris wants.

Anderson walked 20 times and struck out just 29 times during the 2023 spring campaign. If Anderson gets into the Tigers system and does something similar, the Tigers organization will be looking forward to seeing him climb through the ranks.

The selection of Anderson wraps up Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft for the Tigers; they will kick things off on Day 2, getting underway with their first pick at no. 76, being the sixth pick of the day.