The Detroit Tigers are starting to see some of their recent draft classes pay dividends in the majors.
Last season included 31 home runs from From Spencer Torkelson (No. 1 overall pick, 2020), the continued development of lefty Tarik Skubal (ninth round, 2018), who bounced back from flexor tendon surgery to post a 7-3 record with a 2.80 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP, and a breakout season from outfielder Kerry Carpenter, who clubbed 20 home runs in 118 games.
Carpenter was part of a 2019 Tigers draft class that received a seal of approval from Baseball America on Wednesday. In taking a look back at that draft, the publication named the Tigers as one of its five winners from 2019.
That Tigers class was led by outfielder Riley Greene, who was selected at No. 5 overall out of high school in Oviedo, Florida. Greene saw his second MLB season hampered by a stress reaction in his left fibula and a torn UCL in his right (non-throwing) elbow, but at 23 years old is considered a cornerstone of the team.
Eight players from Detroit’s 2019 draft class are now big leaguers, though 11th rounder John McMillon didn’t sign and instead reached the majors with the Royals,” Baseball America national reporter Carlos Collazo writes. “That’s an impressive haul regardless of quality, and the Tigers still have a chance for plenty of that between Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter. While Tigers fans might still be waiting on the full Greene breakout, it could be coming in the near future.
Greene hit .288 in his abbreviated season (378 at-bats), which included slashing .356/.423/.558 with a .981 OPS in May and July combined.
