The one Tigers prospect who got away: Re-living Detroit fans' worst nightmare

In the 22nd round of the 1985 MLB Draft, the Tigers selected Lansing native John Smoltz, a high school pitcher who eventually reneged on a commitment to play college ball at Michigan State to go pro and sign with his hometown team.

Smoltz pitched 226 innings across Single- and Double-A in the Tigers organization for a 4.78 ERA from 1986-1987. The early returns didn't exactly convince the Tigers that he was a slam dunk talent. After all, he was drafted in the 22nd round.

So, in August 1987, the Tigers, who were looking to surge past the then-AL East Toronto Blue Jays to take the division, went to the Braves looking for another starting pitcher. They set their sights on righty Doyle Alexander, who had pitched 117 2/3 innings to a 4.13 ERA in Atlanta.

Alexander was exactly what the Tigers needed to be when he did come over, making 11 starts and throwing three complete games (oh, how times have changed) for a 1.53 ERA and a perfect 9-0 record. The Tigers did finish first in division, but they fell to the Twins in the ALCS.

The Tigers sent Smoltz back to the Braves in return. Alexander retired in 1989 with a 3.76 career ERA, and Smoltz went on to pitch 20 seasons in Atlanta and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 on his first ballot. Wait, what?!

Tigers should still regret letting go of John Smoltz in 1987 trade for Doyle Alexander

By the time he retired, Smoltz had spent 21 years in the majors, won a Cy Young, appeared in eight All-Star Games, somehow won a Silver Slugger in 1997, and had a career 3.33 ERA over 3,473 innings pitched.

Hindsight is 20/20 and the Tigers had no way of knowing what Smoltz would unleash with the Braves, but it's really hard not to still be angry about a trade that happened almost 40 years ago, and the Smoltz-Alexander deal can now be found on various "worst trades of all time" lists.

Again, there was no way for the Tigers to know. Maybe the Braves' pitching coaches and player development were the key, maybe — even if he stayed — Smoltz never would've reached quite the same heights in Detroit.

None of that is particularly comforting to Tigers fans, but it's all we have to hold onto at this point. That, and maybe the fact that he's only one of seven Michigan-born players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but those are the only small consolations we've got.